Chapter 106 – Heavenly Fire
With great difficulty, Qi Qiqi climbed out of the water. She can no longer be described as cutting a sorry figure.
Due to the clothes being soaking wet, the skin is faintly discernible, and the captivating curves are outlined. But Xue Qilin whose gaze is fixed on her cannot bear any indecent thoughts.
The la.s.s just wants to laugh.
The girl looks really miserable!
One of the socks has slipped down. Water filling the fabric falls down along the edges of the big sleeves like a water curtain. The wet long hair is dripping with water and sticking to its owners body messily.
Silent, Qi Qiqi took off her ankle boots and poured out the water inside.
After seeing this, Xue Qilin finally couldn"t bear it anymore and spurted out a laughter.
“What are you laughing at!”
Qi Qiqi threw her boot at Xue Qilin, yet the latter caught it with her hand.
“Hhha… you can"t blame me.”
Xue Qilin wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Stop laughing!”
“Ah, caught it!”
Xue Qilin caught another boot.
“Stay still!”
Unwilling, Qi Qiqi took off the socks and threw them at the la.s.s who is gloating.
“Yo, you don"t need socks either?”
With a s.h.i.t-eating grin on her face, Xue Qilin caught the socks as well.
“You caught them!”
Seeing that none of the things she threw hit the target, Qi Qiqi stomped her well proportioned bare feet, indignant.
Dammit, what"s with this child-like temper? It"s cute! Xue Qilin s.p.a.ced out, moved.
What are you thinking, you aren"t Mingming! The la.s.s secretly spoke to herself and shook her head to toss the strange thoughts away.
“… That said, Little Seven, you ah… may be more suitable for some fairly violent and simple spells!”
In order to divert the attention, Xue Qilin raised a new topic.
Even so, she has already deliberated on this topic.
After nearly two months, Xue Qilin discovered that Qi Qiqi has inherent shortcomings when it comes to the control of true qi.
The reason behind this is that she is practicing a sword school cultivation method.
Sword school cultivation methods originally emphasize the compactness of true energy. Simply put, they are focused on increasing the density of true energy.
High-density true qi is not suitable for external release and control. To draw an a.n.a.logy – the higher the pressure, the harder it is to change direction of a stream.
Qi Qiqi gave a cry of surprise.
“Violent and simple spells? What do you mean?”
With her interest piqued, she seems to have forgotten that her clothes are quite revealing at the moment.
“Simple spells have fewer steps to construct the spell models, so there is naturally less loss of true qi during the construction. It will be easier for you to exert their power. Um…”
Xue Qilin thought for a moment, and then gave an example: “For instance "Heavenly Fire".”
“Heavenly Fire?”
Xue Qilin shook her head and said profoundly: “Well, that"s the most powerful attack in history.”
“The most powerful attack…”
Chewing on the words, Qi Qiqi"s eyes gradually revealed yearning.
Strongest – this word is quite enticing to a martial pract.i.tioner.
“Well, words alone lack persuasive force. There happens to be a lake here…”
Xue Qilin looked at the artificial small lake not far away. She intends to use the lake water to absorb the destructive power of Heavenly Fire.
The small lake is about 2 meters deep, and it"s area doesn"t seem large. But in fact, how big is it. Xue Qilin cannot make a concrete a.s.sessment by relying on her vision alone.
“… Little Seven, how big is this lake?”
“Hmm? About 5 mu [1].”
“5 mu? If 1 mu is 666 square meters… that"s about half the size of a football field… ”
Xue Qilin murmured and converted the units.
Heavenly Fire is a large-scale destructive spell. Without a buffer, even just 30% of the maximum power is enough to destroy Snow-facing Abode. Therefore, she must adjust the power according to the volume of water in the small lake that will be used as the buffer, so that the power of Heavenly Fire can be displayed to the greatest extent without laying waste to the flowers and gra.s.s in the Snow-facing Abode.
“Football field?”
Qi Qiqi"s head tilted at the words she heard for the first time.
Xue Qilin avoided answering the question.
“That doesn"t matter! Come, I will give you a demonstration of "Heavenly Fire" – I will use one-third of my full power!”
Xue Qilin had Qi Qiqi take a few steps back.
“Take a look!”
Xue Qilin"s expression instantly became serious, and the true qi in her body circulated rapidly.
Tongues of fire escape her mouth as she breathes.
Then, she used her toes to depict a magic array on the ground. She looks like she is performing a gentle dance.
“The sun hanging high in the sky…”
As the rhythmic chanting flows out from the lush lips, countless flames ignite around the pet.i.te la.s.s.
“Please move to Jingmen [2] of Li [3] Palace in the south…”
The flames converged into a stream and gathered in the air above the lake, radiating a destructive red light.
With a magnificent aura that scares the mind and a dazzling brilliance that burns the eyes.
It looks like a scarlet sun dying the sky red.
“With Qian [4] as power and Li [3] as form, turn into Heavenly Fire and burn everything!”
Xue Qilin put two fingers together and swiped down.
… the might of the Heavens fell down from the sky.
An irresistible stream of destructive flames slammed toward the small lake.
Looking like a giant beast with its maw opened wide lunging at a rabbit, the scene is stifling.
At this moment of bated breath, Qi Qiqi…
“White Dragon!”
Suddenly exclaimed and ran towards the lake.
She is running towards the two-tailed white cat that had just protruded its head out from the lake and looked back blankly, completely unaware of the destructive flames that are descending from the sky.
Why is it there? Was it thirsty? Xue Qilin was stunned. Although White Dragon won"t be hit directly, but the probability of it being affected is still very high.
However, just like an arrow that has left the string, “Heavenly Fire” has been unleashed and cannot be withdrawn.
Qi Qiqi must have understood this, which is why she took immediate action. She wants to save White Dragon.
Not everyone has considerations for their own safety when saving others in an emergency, and Qi Qiqi probably didn"t consider the consequences of her actions either.
No, she might have considered them, but she still made the decision to save the cat.
In any case, this is not important for Xue Qilin. In her heart, Qi Qiqi is far more important than White Dragon. She won"t let Qi Qiqi to take risks.
Xue Qilin caught up with Qi Qiqi and threw her to the ground in a flash and held her down.
“Are you crazy?!”
The rebuke has just left her mouth, when it was buried by the rumbling of a shock wave.
Then, an impact containing flame tongues, sand and stones, steam, and lake water swept over and knocked on the shield made of true qi Xue Qilin conjured.
“Dong Dong Dong Dong” A dull sound rang continuously. Pressed down by the la.s.s, Qi Qiqi shouted something.
Although she didn"t hear the other party clearly, but Xue Qilin did see Qi Qiqi"s mouth change shape clearly.
… “Let go of me!”
… “White Dragon, White Dragon!”
Despite her continued struggles, Qi Qiqi cannot break free. This reflects the gap in strength between the Earth Realm and the Heaven Realm.
After things calmed down, Xue Qilin raised her head and looked in White Dragon"s direction.
The lake water has evaporated, and turned into mist that filled the s.p.a.ce and blurred the view.
Xue Qilin"s eyes narrowed, turned gold, and glowed with an overcast light.
Her sharp gaze penetrated the heavy fog.
Crooked from the impact, the trees next to the small lake release twisted strands of smoke, with the side facing the small lake being scorched black. The stones depicting the outline of the small lake are radiating dim red light.
At White Dragon"s location, there is faintly visible water-colored light.
White Dragon is curled up inside a hemispherical water barrier, shivering. It doesn"t seem to be injured.
“… Are you going to demolish the building? I think that Snow-facing Abode is pretty good, no need to rebuild it, right?”
A clear and soft voice came from behind.
This mischievous tone… Xue Qilin turned her head and met the gaze of the graceful water-colored figure behind her.
Smiling brightly, the girl is gazing at the two people lying on the ground full of interest.
The shoulder-length hair shining in the sun looks like it is made up of threads made of water, the skin is fairer than snow, and the clear and limpid water-blue eyes are suffused with soft ripples.
With her beautiful and elegant appearance and a natural temperament that has a calming effect, the girl resembles a stream.
This girl is Xue Qilin"s initiate disciple – Shui Yuner.
“How could you do this… you"re making me envious.”
Another voice rang.
It was a girl in purple standing beside Shui Yuner who spoke.
She has a refined and lovely appearance and long black hair combed into a soft bun hanging from the right side of the head. Coupled with a light purple dress embroidered with dark gold patterns, she exhibits some kind of n.o.bility that seeps out from deep inside her.
However, at this moment, she is biting a handkerchief, and has an expression of harboring a grudge on her face.
Her appearance creates a sense of uncoordinated contrast with her words and behavior.
“Um, could it be that this wasn"t an accident?”
Shui Yun"er tilted her head slightly, and the smile on her face deepened.
For some reason, Xue Qilin cannot feel a trace of smiling intent from Shui Yuner.
This made the la.s.s shiver.
“… Let go of me!”
Qi Qiqi shouted emotionally, and Xue Qilin let her go subconsciously. Without waiting for the la.s.s to move away from her, she propped herself up and rushed out frantically.
“Ah… it hurts!”
Xue Qilin who lost her equilibrium plopped with her but on the ground.
“Does Older Sister Temple Master have this kind of hobby? Impossible… it can"t be… But if it is the case, then I could also push Older Sister Temple Master… ”
A baffled look in her eyes, Nangong Mingming murmured to herself dangerously.
Chasing after Qi Qiqi, Xue Qilin ignored Nangong Mingming who has some kind of problem.
“White Dragon!”
The water barrier turned into raindrops and sprinkled down. Hearing someone call it, White Dragon looked up.
“Meow…!”
After seeing Qi Qiqi running its way, it called out. It"s voice is clearly suffused with fear.
The white cat tried to get up several times, but it was unsuccessful.
Still trembling, it seems to be really scared.
“White Dragon, are you okay?”
Qi Qiqi picked up White Dragon, held it in front of her eyes, and looked at it carefully.
As if it wants to say that it is fine, White Dragon released another meow.
“I"m glad that you"re fine.”
Whether she understood White Dragon or personally confirmed that it is safe and sound, Qi Qiqi finally heaved a sigh of relief, pressed White Dragon against her cheek, and rubbed against it gently.
“Is White Dragon alright?”
Xue Qilin looked out from behind Qi Qiqi.
Hearing the question, Qi Qiqi turned around and looking at the la.s.s angrily.
“Why didn"t you check things clearly!”
Qi Qiqi"s denouncement left Xue Qilin speechless.
She is to blame. After all, she conjured “Heavenly Fire” without confirming that everything was clear.
“I"m sorry, I didn"t mean to… I didn"t expect White Dragon to suddenly run to the lake to drink water…”
Xue Qilin has an awkward look on her face.
“Why didn"t you let me save White Dragon!”
Qi Qiqi spoke in a questioning tone.
Xue Qilin became angry when she heard that. She raised her eyebrows subconsciously, but then remembered that she was in the wrong in the first place, so she tried to scold in a soft tone.
“I was worried that something would happen to you…”
“So White Dragon should be left to fend for itself?”
“…In my view, you are more important than White Dragon.”
Xue Qilin expressed her thoughts directly, not hiding anything. Although she likes White Dragon, but if she is asked to make a choice between Qi Qiqi and it, she will choose the former without hesitation.
People aren"t equal, not in this world, and even more so not in people"s hearts.
Treat everyone equally without discrimination – that"s just a big, fat lie.
Who can truly treat everyone equally? A saint?
Anyway, even if there is such a person, they must be heartless.
Xue Qilin is not a heartless person, so she can"t do it.
Hearing Xue Qilin"s answer, Qi Qiqi"s face stiffened a little.
Although the anger on her face hasn"t faded, but it has subsided by a lot.
“White Dragon is just a cat. You are far more important than it.”
Xue Qilin said honestly.
… If she coaxed Qi Qiqi instead, then what happens next might not take place.
“White Dragon is also a living being!”
Xue Qilin was suddenly stunned.
“Meow…”
White Dragon looked at Qi Qiqi and called weakly, as if to persuade her not to be angry.
Qi Qiqi took a long breath and eased the anger inside her.
“If something happens to White Dragon, I won"t forgive you.”
Qi Qiqi gave Xue Qilin a cold glance, and then left with White Dragon in her arms.
For some reason, the situation that has taken a turn for the better suddenly deteriorated. The la.s.s looked blankly at Shui Yuner.
“Older Sister Qi seems to cherish White Dragon very much…”
Shui Yuner said bitterly.
It seems to be the case, or else Qi Qiqi wouldn"t have such a big reaction.
Feeling a headache, Xue Qilin doesn"t know how to cajole Qi Qiqi.
“This is troublesome …”
She couldn"t help but sigh.
In spite of this, Xue Qilin still braced herself and went after Qi Qiqi.
[1] – mu
[2] – Jingmen (景門), one of the eight gates in ancient Chinese divination
[3] – Li (離), one of the nine palaces in ancient Chinese divination
[4] – Qian (乾), one of the nine palaces in ancient Chinese divination