Chapter 169: Plucking the Fangs from the Tiger’s Mouth
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Mt. Fire Cloud was a well-known place in the Great Xia Kingdom. It was rumored that a Fire Qilin was nurtured here 100 thousand years ago. After the Fire Qilin was born, it burned down every city that was within a hundred-mile radius and suddenly vanished.
A rumor was still a rumor; the Fire Qilin was a tier-five Demon Emperor, but the people in this world doubted if there was any existence of a Demon Emperor. What’s more, for the past ten thousand years, only a few Flaming Birds had appeared from the volcano of the Mt. Fire Cloud, which the people staying in the nearby cities didn’t mind.
The volcano inside of the Mt. Fire Cloud was a dormant volcano, which didn’t erupt for thousands of years. Of course, the vent of the volcano was still constantly releasing boiling hot gases which no one dared to approach.
“Swis.h.!.+”
Jiang Yi quickly went up Mt. Fire Cloud and headed straight towards the peak. If he wanted to obtain the Earth Fire that was within the volcano, he would have to climb down from the vent of the volcano and dive into the bottom of the volcano.
The closer he got to the vent of the volcano, the hotter the temperature. The Silver-Moon Demon Wolf instinctively felt the fear and began to gradually slow down.
“Demon wolf, go back in!”
After riding on the demon wolf more several thousand feet, he withdrew the demon wolf back into the spirit beast talisman. He rapidly hiked up to the peak of the volcano. His eyes were filled with excitement, but at such proximity of the vent of the volcano, the demon wolf couldn’t withstand the heat any longer. Due to the energy that was transferred from the Fire Spirit Pearl, he couldn’t feel a hint of the blazing heat. This meant that there was a very high possibility that the Fire Spirit Pearl could absorb the Earth Fire from within the volcano.
Eh? There is someone?
Jiang Yi suddenly paused his footsteps. Using his insane hearing ability, he could hear a few hundred feet ahead. He could hear a rough panting sound from underneath a boulder. It was obvious that someone was hiding there but wasn’t able to withstand the blazing heat.
His eyes flickered for a few times as he was bewildered. There wasn’t any demonic beast or treasure in the volcano; why would anyone come here? Regular martial artists wouldn’t be here unless they were looking for some pain in the a.s.s.
Unfamiliar with the place, Jiang Yi didn’t dare to randomly clash with anyone. He muttered to himself and took a detour without hesitation, climbing up the volcano from the other side.
In the end…
Along the way up the volcano, he actually spotted seven or eight scouts. All of them were rather competent and were at least at the first or second stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. Had it not been for the intense heat on the volcano, he wouldn’t be able to spot them.
There is someone on the peak! Is there some bizarre treasure that appeared in the volcano? Are they looking for treasure?
When Jiang Yi was a few thousand feet away from the peak of the volcano, he stopped. He could obviously hear the erratic breathing of a few dozen men from above. These people seemed like they were just hiding around the vent of the volcano and not moving. It was unknown what were they waiting for.
“What should I do now?”
Jiang Yi hesitated. He might not be able to sense the aura of the people on top; hence, he was unable to judge their strength. But from those scouts below, who were all of Purple Mansion Realm, there might be a Soul Travel Realm martial expert among them. If he was spotted by them, there would definitely be a clash.
Descend the mountain?
After taking such a long detour to arrive at the Great Xia Kingdom? Moreover, there was a high possibility that the Fire Spirit Pearl could absorb the Earth Fire within the volcano. Jiang Yi was unwilling to just give up.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and hid under one of the stone peaks, preparing to wait. If these people were able to swiftly obtain the treasure in the volcano and descend the mountain, it wouldn’t affect him from collecting the Earth Fire.
This wait took him an entire day!
When Jiang Yi found out one of the scouts was very weak, there still wasn’t any movement from the top. Their breathing was getting heavier, and it was obvious they couldn’t endure anymore, but they were insistent on not moving.
G.o.ddammit…
Jiang Yi couldn’t feel the blazing heat, but he was rather impatient from the wait. His time was precious. If this group was to guard the place for three days and three nights, was he going to follow suit? If he couldn’t make it to the Kingdom War, then it would truly be d.a.m.ned.
The skies quickly darkened. The vent of the volcano wasn’t spurting out any flames; thus, it was complete darkness when one looked from above. The temperature didn’t decrease much, and the people that were hidden under the vent of the volcano were breathing even heavier.
“Chirp-Chirp!”
One hour later, there was a bird’s chirp from above, causing everyone to immediately stop breathing. Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up; it seemed like these people were about to make a move. Were they here just to slay the demonic beast in the volcano?
“Hu-Hu!”
A heat wave plunged over, and the sky was suddenly illuminated. A giant red avian whizzed out, and its body was actually burning with intense flames that nearly immolated all the martial artists that were lying in ambush.
Tier-three demonic beast, Fire Phoenix?
Jiang Yi was shocked but wasn’t fearful. With the Fire Spirit Pearl, the Black Qilin couldn’t even harm him. This meant that this Fire Phoenix’s flames wouldn’t be an issue.
“Chirp-Chirp!”
The Fire Phoenix seemingly didn’t detect the people lying in ambush and flew straight into the sky. It was soon flying into the distance and had turned into a streak of red light before vanis.h.i.+ng into the north.
“Great! The Fire Phoenix is out to hunt. Hong Lao, all of you quickly make the move! Take the Fire Lingzhi, and this Young Master shall have generous rewards. Haha… with this Fire Lingzhi, this Young Master can definitely break through to the Soul Travel Realm!”
A willful shout echoed, and the few dozen men began to move. More than ten figures skimmed towards the vent of the volcano and took out many black ropes before climbing down the volcano.
They are really here to look for treasure!
Jiang Yi felt relief. Once these people obtained the treasure, they would be leaving immediately, right? It was the perfect timing for him to go collect the Earth Fire while the Fire Phoenix was out. Fortunately, he didn’t make any reckless move earlier; there were around five or six Soul Travel Realm experts in this group. Although they seemed to only be at the second or third stage of the Soul Travel Realm, any mishaps would mean that he was going to fall right here.
“d.a.m.n it, after waiting for such a long time, that d.a.m.ned bird finally came out. This Young Master nearly died from the heat! But if I cultivate with this saint-tier herb, Fire Lingzhi, this Young Master is going to become a Soul Travel Realm expert! HAHAHA…”
The young master that was in the group let out another willful laughter. Jiang Yi was shocked as he heard it. Judging from their aura, this young master’s strength was around the eighth or ninth stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. Refining a single Fire Lingzhi could actually help him achieve Soul Travel Realm? What kind of miraculous herb was it?
Jiang Yi didn’t have any intention to rob the treasure; after all, it was found by someone else. Furthermore, with so many Soul Travel Realm experts around, he was currently getting ready to flee at any moment—why would he dare to go plucking the fangs from a tiger’s mouth?
“Chirp-Chirp!”
“Ah—!”
Suddenly, the roaring of the Fire Phoenix could be heard loudly and clearly which was followed closely by miserable screams. Finally, a Soul Travel Realm expert flew out from the vent of the volcano. He burst out shouting with fearful eyes, “Young Master, run! The rest of you, immediately get off the volcano, too. There is a male Fire Phoenix inside!”
“Idiot! Who is the one who said that there is only one Fire Phoenix?”
The young master immediately berated, but he was frantically carried and brought off the volcano by a Soul Travel Realm expert. Everyone also ran fearfully. The Fire Phoenix was a tier-three demonic beast; apart from Soul Travel Realm experts, Purple Mansion Realm fighters would certainly die from an encounter.
Jiang Yi didn’t dare to move and was currently holding his breath; he didn’t dare to release a hint of presence. Fortunately, the martial artists up there were all in a panic and had immediately leaped off the volcano. No one had noticed him.
“Chirp-Chirp!”
As expected, a Fire Phoenix which looked exactly like the other Fire Phoenix earlier burst out from the volcano. Its fiery eyes were filled with rage. When it saw the countless martial artists that fled in all directions, the flaming wings extended out and swoop down to pursue them. It was breathing out flames from a distance and incinerated two of the slowest scouts into ashes.
To flee or not?
Jiang Yi’s heart was having an intense dilemma. His instincts told him that if he stayed here, it would be dangerous. That Fire Lingzhi within the volcano was attracting him like opium. He didn’t dare to have any intention for it earlier, but now that all the Soul Travel Realm experts were being chased after by the Fire Phoenix, it would be such a pity to give up this fated opportunity!
I’m going for it! Riches come from danger! Worse case, I will die looking towards the sky like a bird!
Ultimately, Jiang Yi gritted his teeth and shot towards the vent of the volcano. He might not know about this Fire Lingzhi; was it going to be as miraculous as the young master stated? But he was determined to take a risk!
“G.o.ddammit!”
When Jiang Yi moved, a Soul Travel Realm martial artist, who was fleeing, immediately noticed him. He saw a shadow heading straight to the vent of the volcano, which led to him leaping up high and falling into the volcano. He immediately roared out in rage, “Young Master, there is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d who wants to s.n.a.t.c.h your Fire Lingzhi!”
“What?”
The young master in the luxurious robes, who was being carried by a Soul Travel Ream expert, was instantly enraged. He roared out, “Zhao Lao, Cao Lao, the two of you will stall the Fire Phoenix. Hong Lao, you will quickly go and obtain the Fire Lingzhi. Mince that b.a.s.t.a.r.d up at the same time. G.o.ddammit, actually trying to s.n.a.t.c.h this Young Master’s item?! He must be tired of living!”
…