Chapter 09: The Seven-Colored Soul Fire, Illuminating the Divine and Demonic Realm of the Celestial Void
The Tianxu is renowned for its abundant production of Soul Fire, making it the most powerful source of warfare for the Eastern Hua Kingdom. It can be regarded as the foundation of the Eastern Hua Kingdom and its core competitive advantage. Therefore, it is indeed a place that not just anyone can access.
On this day, the sorrow returns to the clouds and the sea, the "soul fire" displayed by this young man from the lower class actually holds an extremely important position in the Eastern Hua Kingdom
"Brother Yun, what do you think of my Soul Fire technique just now?" Yu Chou Gui asked with a smile.
Heavenly Ruins? Yun Fan Hai suddenly inhaled sharply, "You can't be referring to that 'Tomb of Gods and Demons'?"
A few superior deities and demons survived, and in the face of a shattered world flowing with blood, they chose to traverse the void and enter alternate realms and times to recuperate and thrive
What? Upon hearing Yun Fan Hai, he finally reacted and quickly looked at Yu Chou Gui's hand. He saw that Yu Chou Gui's right palm was held in front of his chest, and in his palm was a swirling blue flame, shimmering and flickering incessantly
Indeed, truly high-quality soul fire must be hunted and fused by the owner themselves
The most evident point is that the ancient myths of Huaxia envision most deities and demons as immortal and indestructible extraordinary beings, embellishing their deeds and ultimately transforming them into unimaginable supernatural events
In the Shenwei Mountain Range, particularly around Tianxu, the current Emperor of Donghua, Dongfang Ming, has deployed 5,000 elite troops to guard the area, even amidst the pressing situation of warfare against the Demon Nation, which clearly demonstrates the significance he places on Tianxu
What is this Qinghu Soul Fire of yours? Once unleashed, it can instantly annihilate those hot-blooded bandits of the Alliance. Why then do you insist on engaging in a real fight?
Its soul has undergone millions of years, transforming into a blue ethereal flame within the celestial ruins, which I have obtained
Brother Yun is also an understanding person; have you not heard the saying, 'Fortune favors the bold'? If it were so easy to obtain, how could I have just demonstrated such immense power
I am quite confident in Yu Chougui regarding this matter, because although Yun Fanhai's martial skills and spells are not remarkable, as a substitute for the divine hero, this time Yu Chougui has specially brought forth the national treasure of Donghua Kingdom, the "Donghua Divine Sword," for Yun Fanhai to carry with him.
But if luck is not on my side, for example, if I end up with a soul fire, either as a dog or a pig, should I then be referred to by the nicknames 'Rolling Dog' or 'Food Snatching Pig' in the future
Not to mention having seen it, he hardly hears about the "Soul Fire" even once throughout the entire year
The missing Wind God Hero did not take the Donghua Sword, which is said to be forged from the fragments of the Donghua Emperor's treasure, the "Lamp of Guiding Immortals and Illuminating Souls"; moreover, the Tianxu was created by the Donghua Emperor using great magical powers during the final stages of the battle between gods and demons. Therefore, based on the experiences of previous divine heroes, the Donghua Sword is certain to resonate with the soul fire within the Tianxu.
From this, a specialized profession emerged on Donghuazhou, known as "Fire Hunters," who are dedicated to collecting various types of soul fires and reselling them to those in need
Uh? That's not right! He suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed somewhat as he complained, "Chief Steward Yu, since you possess such powerful magic, why didn't you use it immediately yesterday?"
This ... ... '' left me speechless for a moment, as I thought to myself that you were trying to save face, yet it nearly scared me to death.
Now I have merged with her; in the face of the enemy, she is me, and I am her, truly a meeting of minds
The Soul Fire possesses another peculiar attribute, which is that a person can only have one Soul Fire at most at the same time
According to legend, Donghuazhou was the main battlefield of the ancient war between gods and demons in the East China Sea, where countless gods and demons perished.
Is that so... Upon hearing Yu Chou Gui's words, Yun Fan Hai felt somewhat moved
At this moment, the melancholy had already collected its soul fire, restored its true form, and slowly descended back to the ground
There is a joking saying in Donghuazhou that once a martial artist or practitioner finds their desired soul fire, their loyalty is often higher than that towards their marital partner
Moreover, that Mingxin Snow is even more remarkable, its soul fire named "Purple Sky Divine Luan," is a top-tier seventh-grade purple soul fire
The falling flames resembled rain, and the divine light of the green fox瞬间 illuminated the previously dim world, dispelling all the gloom and darkness that had existed before.
According to this understanding, both the Donghua human race and the Hanyuan demon race share a consensus: in the current world, the three commonly seen races—humans, demons, and monsters—are recognized as follows: the human race is a creation of the ancient gods, the demon race is descended from ancient demons, and the monster race is the lineage of divine birds and magical beasts
"Good." Although Yun agreed in Haikou, he was thinking of one thing in his heart: "It seems that everyone is accustomed to using soul fire as a nickname. Borrowing the auspicious words of Manager Yu, if I could truly obtain a divine dragon soul fire, that would naturally be excellent"
Due to the intense and destructive nature of the war between gods and demons, the abundant spiritual energy in the world was largely depleted and leaked away. As a result, after millions of years, the descendants of these ancient gods and demons have significantly degenerated in terms of their physical form, strength, and intellect compared to their ancient ancestors.
"Such a powerful soul fire, do you want it?" Yu Chougui asked him with a smile.
Ah! Upon witnessing this scene, Yun Fan Hai could not help but take a sharp breath of cold air
Uh, I apologize for speaking too quickly. It is not just a nickname; it is the nickname 'Poyunlong' that needs to be changed. We should add a character to make it 'Poyun Shenlong'—you see, how impressive and majestic it sounds!
Ah! Upon hearing that the full payment cannot be obtained, Yun Fan Hai truly became anxious, exclaiming, "Indeed, that would have serious consequences! How can this soul fire be obtained?"
Unlike the unremarkable counterfeit leaders like Yun Fan Hai, the high-caliber warriors and mages in the Donghua Kingdom must seek the Soul Fire, one of the ten elemental attributes—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Light, Dark, and Death—if they wish to elevate their powers to a higher level
Where is this? Although the Radiant Divine Hero is indeed revered by the masses, for every light there is a shadow, and naturally, there are many adversaries. The next time you encounter a true formidable opponent, if you do not possess some genuine protective skills, you may not survive long enough to claim the full reward
So, so impressive! Yun Fan Hai exclaimed sincerely.
For someone like Yun Fan Hai, the Tian Xu was once a place of legend; not only could he not even touch its edges, but it was also something he could hardly dare to imagine.
Uh? The melancholy of the azure visage returns. Seeing him like this, I was rather surprised. "Brother Yun, what happened to you? Why do you look as if you've seen a ghost upon seeing me?"
But you must consider, if it were not so, would not everyone in the world possess a ball of soul fire? In that case, it would not only be unremarkable, but the extent of its power would likely be difficult to ascertain
This azure fox was, in ancient times, a divine beast that served before the throne of the Queen Mother of the West in the Western Kunlun, standing alongside the golden toad, the white rabbit, and the three-legged crow. Unfortunately, it later fell during the war between gods and demons
Moreover, we, the Divine Heroic Guards, are directly under the jurisdiction of His Majesty the Emperor of the Eastern Hua Kingdom. If we wish to ensure your safety and retrieve a wisp of soul fire from the Heavenly Ruins, is it not a matter of ease for us
The master of Feiyun Mountain, who was just eager to try a moment ago, is now mumbling and has already begun to have second thoughts in his heart
Before entering the Celestial Ruins, Yu Chougui had already discussed the knowledge regarding Soul Fire and the Celestial Ruins with Yun Fanhai. In particular, Yu Chougui emphasized that the grades of Soul Fire range from low to high, corresponding to the colors of the rainbow, namely red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, from first grade to seventh grade, with higher grades resembling the colors of flames that are rarely seen in everyday life
Do not be afraid. Yu Chou discerned his thoughts and said, I know that people often say that Tianxu is the burial ground of the battle between gods and demons, where fierce monsters and malevolent beings roam, and ordinary people who enter have a nine out of ten chance of dying.
Almost simultaneously with the throwing of the divine fire, Yu Chou Gui suddenly soared into the air, his entire being rushing towards the azure fox above; after a flurry of light and shadow, he seemed to have merged with the azure fox, becoming the core of the azure fox, while the azure fox became his external form
Seeing him like this, feeling melancholic, he took the opportunity to say: "Brother Yun, do you know? I, lacking in talent, am nicknamed after the soul fire, known as 'Howling Moon Blue Fox'. Sounds quite impressive, doesn't it? By the way, I see that your background is also quite special. May I ask if you have a nickname?"
In fact, from the legends of Tianxu and Soul Fire, it is evident that the people of Donghuazhou have a significantly different understanding of the ancient gods and demons compared to the indigenous people of the western Shenzhou continent
It is all my fault, it is all my fault! But it was just someone who almost killed themselves, is this such a trivial matter to be afraid of? A real man can lose his head and still bear a scar, how can one shamelessly think of asking for more money? That would be too disgraceful!
Upon closer inspection, one discovers that this group of azure flames takes on a peculiar shape, resembling the legendary nine-tailed azure fox. With a gaze that is both proud and disdainful, the emerald fire dances as if it seeks to break free from the grasp of melancholy and soar into the sky!
The deities and demons that perished in battle, or the divine birds and magical beasts and spirit plants that were affected, after enduring millions of years, have transformed into various forms of "soul fire".
The efficacy of the Soul Fire goes without saying; just now, Yu Chou Gui, with the aid of the power of the Soul Fire, was able to wield strength akin to that of a celestial being, sweeping away all in its path
As a non-mainstream leader of a counterfeit group, Yun Fan Hai has never witnessed such a fantastical and intense combat technique
Even though the clouds are thick and the sea is vast, this sudden turn of events not only made my teeth chatter in fear, but my entire body went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground.
I, I, I truly cannot, cannot, cannot dare! Please do not, in a fit of anger, kill me to silence me!
Indeed. The melancholy returned to indifference as he said, "The soul fire spreads to the East, and while it may exist elsewhere, if one truly seeks to obtain powerful soul fire, one must go to the 'Heavenly Ruins' to search for it"
At this point, Yu Chou seemed to suddenly realize something. She lowered her head to take a glance and then said apologetically, "I understand now, it was my 'Howling Moon Blue Fox' soul fire that frightened you."
It is evident that, as the Grave of Gods and Demons, the Celestial Ruins is the place where soul fire is most concentrated and vigorous. While it cannot be said that there is no soul fire in other parts of the world, such a high-grade concentration of soul fire is found only in this one location among the Eastern Sea regions.
This viewpoint may represent a rare consensus between the two races of demons and humans, who have been enemies for generations
On this journey to the Heavenly Ruins, only Yu Chougui and Yun Fanhai are present. After all, how could a true divine hero come to the Heavenly Ruins to seek the Soul Fire?
If a better soul fire is found, it can only replace the original one, which means that all the previous cultivation surrounding the old soul fire would be in vain
"Impressive, truly impressive," Yun Fan Hai said sincerely
However, due to casually taking on a job on the street, at noon on this day, the chief of the Feiyun Mountain bandit stronghold stood at the entrance of Tianxu
The intention behind Yu Chou Gui's words is naturally a hope that the soul fire grade that Yun Fan Hai can find and integrate will be as high as possible
Of course! Yu Chou replied with a smile, "Now that you are collaborating with me in the Divine Hero Guard, we must naturally demonstrate the utmost sincerity. You witnessed what happened yesterday; a mere Blood Alliance nearly cost you your life."
In fact, Yun Fan Hai felt as if he had seen a ghost; when the previously silent Yu Chou Gui turned his face, Yun Fan Hai was astonished to see his complexion a ghostly blue, glowing like a will-o'-the-wisp illuminating a cerulean face, what else could it be if not a specter
Once fused, the Azure Fox of the Howling Moon let out a sudden clear howl, then swiftly twisted its body, soaring without wings. Following this, its nine tails flicked rapidly, unleashing countless azure flames shaped like fox tails that shot out in all directions, accompanied by a howling sound similar to that of the Azure Fox's earlier cry, flying towards the faint shadows in the surrounding darkness
For a moment, he was completely stunned, speechless, and unable to make a sound
"Are you spiritually connected? Is there something troubling you that you can share with her?" Yun Fan Hai inquired.
Therefore, he is likely the most knowledgeable bandit within a radius of several hundred miles around Feiyun Mountain.
The "Heavenly Ruins" mentioned by Yu Chou is located in the central part of the Shenwei Mountain Range on Donghua Island. It is said to be a burial ground following the great war between gods and demons, or it was created by the Donghua Emperor using his immense magical powers after the battle
Oh dear, how frightening! It seems that tomorrow when I go to the Tianxu, I must keep my eyes wide open. Even if it costs me my life, I must seek a soul fire that sounds pleasing to the ear!
"How wonderful!" Yu Chou said with rare enthusiasm, "This is a good omen! Perhaps if you take a stroll in the Tianxu, you might bring back an ancient dragon's soul fire, and from then on, you can change that wretched nickname of yours—"
Thus, in the ancient cataclysmic war between gods and demons that swept across the world, the majority of the gods and demons perished, their souls transforming into soul flames, while their bodies turned into fossils
Of course. The once gentle and melancholic Yu Chou, at this moment, was as proud and disdainful as the azure fox soul fire in his palm, and said, "What I hold in my hand is the azure fox soul fire taken from the Heavenly Ruins."
However, the understanding of the ancient gods and demons in Donghua Prefecture is quite different. In the eyes of the Donghua human race, the ancient gods and demons are merely high-level beings with exceptionally strong powers, possessing unique spells and extremely long lifespans. They are not immortal, and most do not possess the miraculous ability to turn rivers and seas upside down.
In this way, Yu Chou thought that even if his skills were not exceptional, he should still be able to obtain a decent Soul Fire. After all, the Donghua Sword has been passed down since ancient times and is a crucial national treasure, holding significant meaning for the Divine Hero Guard; from a certain perspective, the Divine Hero Guard is the guardian of the Donghua Divine Sword, and even the emblem of the Divine Hero Guard features the design of "Cloud Dragon entwined around the Donghua Sword"
Is this... is this the Soul Fire?" Yun Fan Hai stammered as he asked.
Therefore, unless one truly finds a soul fire with significantly superior grade and characteristics, an ordinary person would not easily replace their soul fire
How? he asked Yun Fan Hai with a smile
Certainly, driving the Soul Fire requires an unimaginable amount of spiritual power, and its effects are not very long-lasting. However, even so, in the struggle between life and death, the difference between having Soul Fire and not having it is immense
Although the surroundings are bright and clear, he can only catch a fleeting glimpse of the wooden dummies' shapes and styles, and then they vanish from sight—those flying azure fox tails are extremely domineering and fierce. In an instant, dozens of dummies almost simultaneously explode violently, shattering into thousands of fragments, which then scatter like snow.
Ha, really! At this moment, Yun Fan Hai also started to laugh, "Manager Yu, I must say, I quite like the nickname 'The Broken Cloud Divine Dragon'!"
"Isn't that right!" Yu Chou replied with a smile, "No need to think about it anymore. Tomorrow, I will tidy up a bit, and then I will accompany you to take a stroll in the Tianxu."
The "Howling Moon Blue Fox" soul fire, which he sorrowfully returned to, is indeed a rare fifth-grade blue soul fire; the genuine divine hero Feng Jingyu is the "An Tian White Deer," whose enchanting blue eyes and the mysterious blue patterns on its white deer body clearly indicate that it is a sixth-grade blue soul fire
Regardless of the circumstances, Yun Fan Hai is always bolder than the average person. Therefore, at this moment, he was not frightened to the point of losing control. In this urgent situation, he decided to go all out
Naturally, we must go to 'Tianxu' now. "Yuchou returned with a warm smile.
There is a 'Breaking Cloud Dragon'. Yun Fan Hai said somewhat shyly
Ah? Upon hearing this, Yun Fan Hai was filled with surprise and joy, and exclaimed, "What? Could it be that I can also possess such a powerful soul fire?"
Such a wondrous soul fire, when traced back to its origins, can be attributed to the ancient battle between gods and demons
Oh, I apologize once again. A trace of pride appeared on the pale face of Yu Chou, "In fact, it is quite simple. Is it worth my 'Howling Moon Blue Fox' using soul fire to deal with these petty individuals? Spreading this around would only invite ridicule."
Thus, he waved his hands like a windmill while exclaiming in rapid succession: "Chief Steward Yu, Lord Yu! I will no longer dare to bring up the matter of increasing your pay!"
It must be said that although Yun Fan Hai took on this task, the mental pressure was immense, and within just a few days, he encountered two life-threatening situations. However, compared to his previous self, through the daily interactions with You Chou Gui, his understanding and perspective have unknowingly advanced by leaps and bounds.
Not only that. "Come and see—" As she spoke, Yu Chou returned and tossed the soul fire in her hand into the air. In the blink of an eye, the size of a bullet, the soul fire grew in the wind, and in an instant transformed into a mystical blue fox with a body of azure light and fur of green flames.
You have honed your skills, yet you caused me to experience quite a shock; not only did I suffer from insomnia that night, but I also nearly disfigured myself
It was not until this moment that Yun Fan Hai realized that the mysterious shadows he had just thought to be demons and ghosts were merely wooden mannequins of various shapes.
It is precisely by harnessing the power of the Soul Fire that the Donghua human race, whose bodies are considerably weaker than those of the demon race, has been able to barely withstand the invasion of the Cold Abyss Empire during the continuous human-demon wars spanning hundreds of years