Inside the Forbidden Barren Wasteland.
After saving Leng Ningyu and Chi Yue, Chu Kuangren a.s.signed Swordsman Mei to a mission.
At this time, besides Swordsman Mei who had left to carry out her mission, Chu Kuangren still had Leng Ningyu, Chi Yue, and mini Jian Changfeng with him.
They were all chatting casually. Since Leng Ningyu arrived at the Forbidden Barren Wasteland earlier than Chu Kuangren, she was more familiar with the area.
She was informing Chu Kuangren about the current situation in this forbidden area.
It included information such as the Opportunities of Fortune that each of the outlawed sky-prides have obtained and the strongest ones who were exploring in the deeper parts of the forbidden area right now.
The Forbidden Barren Wasteland was split into three areas — the Inner Circle, Outer Circle, and Core Area.
The deeper they explored, the greater the Opportunities of Fortune were.
Meanwhile, Chu Kuangren, Leng Ningyu, and the others were now at the transitional area between the Inner Circle and the Outer Circle. Most of the top-notched and outlawed sky-prides were in the Inner Circle as of now.
As for the Core Area, there were still quite a lot of seals and had yet fully opened, so no one could explore that area.
Midway during their chat, Swordsman Mei"s message arrived through the communication compa.s.s at Chu Kuangren"s waist.
"Oh, she"s right on their tail."
…
Somewhere in the Forbidden Barren Wasteland.
Princess Chi Lian, who was recuperating from her wounds, uttered fearfully, "I can"t believe that a sky-pride like him exists. This is truly unbelievable."
She was an outlawed sky-pride who possessed incredible power.
However, she could not even take two sword attacks from Chu Kuangren. His strength was just too terrifying.
"Sovereign, that person"s combat strength may already be on par with a Sovereign!"
"If I want to have a chance of fighting him, I"ll have to get stronger and reach a Top-notched Boundary Emperor at the very least. By then, coupled with my Red Serpent Poison Flame, I might be able to exchange a few blows with him."
Judging by Chu Kuangren"s sword qi, Princess Chi Lian deduced that his spiritual power was at a Top-notched Boundary Emperor"s level.
Among the outlawed sky-pride, only a few of them were at a Boundary Emperor"s level, let alone a Top-notched Boundary Emperor.
"I"m here, Princess."
At this time, a person suddenly arrived. It was Li Celong.
Princess Chi Lian"s expression turned grim upon seeing him. The reason she got injured was mostly because of him. Hence, she asked him coldly with a long face. "Who the h*ll was that person? You"d better give me a proper explanation."
Li Celong then told her everything about Chu Kuangren. At the end of the explanation, he added, "I didn"t know this person would suddenly appear as well."
"Chu Kuangren. So he"s the one who single-handedly overpowered a group of outlawed sky-prides? He"s indeed quite remarkable. However, his arrival has completely disrupted our plan. With him around, it"ll be extremely difficult to get to Leng Ningyu," Princess Chi Lian said with a gloomy face.
"I"m well aware of that too. That"s why I"ve come to offer you some help, Princess."
"Oh, so you"ve decided to tell me the location of the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame?"
Princess Chi Lian"s eyes lit up. The reason she would collaborate with Li Celong was because of the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame.
"That"s right, Princess. Based on your current power, you"re no match for Chu Kuangren. However, once you"ve refined the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame, things might be a little different."
"Very well, don"t you worry. Once I"m done refining the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame, I"ll surely honor my end of the deal. Leng Ningyu will definitely return to your arms soon."
"No, I want those two b*stards to die together!"
Li Celong snorted with hatred in his eyes.
Princess Chi Lian was a bit surprised by his reaction. However, she seemingly figured it out, and a playful smile was etched on her face. "Looks like my poison flame worked. It was you who couldn"t compete with Chu Kuangren. Then again, when it comes to appearance, you"d be blown ten kilometers away before the likes of Chu Kuangren. If it were me, I"d choose him too."
"Hmph, you better watch your mouth, Princess. Otherwise, I"ll find someone else to do this instead."
Li Celong"s expression turned grim.
"Appearance, appearance, appearance. Is that the only thing that women truly desire?"
Every woman was mesmerized by Chu Kuangren"s handsome face. Even Princess Chi Lian, his enemy, also praised his good looks in front of Li Celong.
"Why the f*ck is this happening?!"
"Alright, I get it." Princess Chi Lian lifted her hands and said.
There was a hint of disdain in her eyes. However, she hid it so well that Li Celong did not notice it.
"Let"s go. The Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame is quite a distance from where we are now."
"Alright."
Princess Chi Lian instantly perked up and became excited when he mentioned the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame.
After the two of them left, a ghastly black figure appeared.
It was Swordsman Mei, who had been following Li Celong in secret.
Specialized in Dark Dao and Stealth Dao, even an outlawed sky-pride like Princess Chi Lian would have trouble detecting her presence within a certain distance.
"Sure enough, it"s just as what Master predicted. Li Celong does have something to do with Princess Chi Lian. It"s because of the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame, huh? No wonder Princess Chi Lian would cooperate with someone like him."
"I"ll let Master know about this."
Once the message was sent, Swordsman Mei took out the Queen Snow Jade Bug and continued following them.
About a day later.
Li Celong and Princess Chi Lian arrived at a swamp.
The swamp was filled with mists of miasma, which made it look so gray that it was impossible to see what was inside.
"This is where the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame is?"
Princess Chi Lian furrowed her brows. "There"s such an abundance of water qi here. How is it possible for an uncommon flame to grow here?"
"There"s no reason for me to lie to you. Just follow me."
Li Celong replied. Then, he took a poison resistance pill and walked into the mists of miasma.
The mist of miasma was highly poisonous. If proper precautions were not taken, even a Boundary Emperor would die on the spot from poison.
However, Princess Chi Lian had nothing to fear.
The mists of miasma were poisonous for ordinary people. Yet, with the body of a wild beast and the Red Serpent Poison Flame, the mist of miasma was akin to fresh air to Princess Chu Lian, and it brought huge comfort to her.
Swordsman Mei appeared after the two of them entered the mists of miasma, which she looked at with a troubled expression. "I don"t have any poison resistance pill, so my life will be in danger if I just barge into the mist hastily. My presence will be known to them too, and it"ll affect Master"s plan. I should wait for Master to get here."
Meanwhile, Princess Chi Lian and Li Celong had ventured deeper into the swamp.
Soon, Princess Chi Lian saw a crimson bundle of flame among the mists of miasma. She could also feel a scorching fire-based qi coming from it.
"The Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame really is here!"
"Of course, there is. Although this is a swamp, there is a fire-based leyline pa.s.sing beneath this land. It is the nourishment from the merging of the swamp and the mists of miasma that eventually produced the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame. However, because this place is very secluded, rarely anyone would come here. My Honorable Teacher and I discovered it while we were collecting herbs in the area."
Li Celong and Princess Chi Lian walked closer to that bundle of flame as he spoke.
At a closer look, it was a crimson flame that resembled the shape of a lotus, surrounded by surges of fiery miasma.
Princess Chi Lian licked her lips and looked at the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame with desire in her eyes.
If she could refine the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame, which was the best among the other poison flames, it would greatly benefit her.
"Huh, that"s not right. Why is someone else here?"
Suddenly, Princess Chi Lian noticed a figure under the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame. It was a middle-aged man who was unleas.h.i.+ng several Daoist Arts towards it.
He was attempting to refine the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame.
"That person is my Honorable Teacher, Master Daoist Li."
"What? Your teacher is already refining the Crimson Miasma Lotus Flame, so why did you bring me here? Are you messing with me?!"
Princess Chi Lian uttered coldly.
"No worries. He can"t move right now because he hasn"t completely refined it yet. You just need to kill him, that"s all."
/strong>
Li Celong said calmly.