Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 45: Netherworld Nine Flames, Scorching Sun Storm!
The Dao Xuan Technique was ineffective.
Si Lanyi’s jade-like hand reached out, surging with Element Force as she utilized her Martial Arts Cultivation. Still, the result was the same. She blinked her beautiful eyes, turning her head to look at Ning Xuan.
"Let me try!" Ning Xuan said in a deep voice, stepping forward and throwing a punch.
His punch was capable of easily breaking stones and splitting steles, but the ice layer below not only showed no cracks, it was actually thickening at an accelerating rate. The two exchanged a look, both shocked.
"Interesting." The light in Ning Xuan’s eyes flickered, his interest greatly piqued.
After a moment of hesitation, Si Lanyi said, "I think I smelled a faint medicinal fragrance in the air just now. That young man might be a Spirit Pill Master."
"A Strange Fire!" Ning Xuan’s eyes lit up.
Si Lanyi nodded, her beautiful eyes fixed expectantly on Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan knew his ability in alchemy hadn’t escaped Si Lanyi’s keen senses.
"I’ll try." Without delay, Ning Xuan activated his Vermilion Bird Divine Vein. Crimson flames danced as he sent them forward. The ice hole shuddered but still couldn’t be penetrated. Ning Xuan was taken aback. Back in Wuling City, these same crimson flames had easily incinerated a Medicinal Cauldron!
Hidden nearby, the young man with the rolled-up trousers hadn’t left. He was surprised and anxious to see that Ning Xuan actually possessed a Strange Fire. However, he soon breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Counter-current Cold of Li Ren Crossing... it can alter the climate and freeze the turbulent Canglan River. It’s not something that can be broken so easily!" the young man murmured, a smile spreading across his face. But immediately, his smile froze.
He was stunned to see that Ning Xuan’s crimson Strange Fire had just turned green!
How could he possibly control two types of Strange Fire! No, wait, the previous Strange Fire evolved! An evolving Strange Fire... could it be...
The young man was utterly shocked.
At the ferry crossing, Si Lanyi watched with interest as Ning Xuan’s Strange Fire changed from red to green. Ning Xuan unleashed the emerald green Strange Fire. This time, the ice layer burst open.
Just as Xiao Bai poked its head out, it was frozen into an ice sculpture by the gushing aura! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
The vast expanse of water in front of Si Lanyi instantly turned to ice. Ning Xuan pulled her back just as the sheet of ice plummeted into the abyss below.
"The temperature here must have dropped at least thirty degrees in an instant!"
Si Lanyi naturally slipped her hand under Ning Xuan’s clothes for warmth. Seeing Ning Xuan staring at Xiao Bai, she comforted him, "Don’t worry, look, its eyes are still moving."
Ning Xuan looked and saw she was right. He abandoned the idea of rescuing Xiao Bai and approached the ice hole instead.
The young man hiding in the shadows promptly revealed himself. "Don’t get too close, it’s dangerous!" he warned.
Ning Xuan halted. He wasn’t surprised by the young man’s sudden appearance and asked, "What’s going on here?"
"Strange Fire! Based on my exploration over the past few days, I’ve figured out why the Canglan River is experiencing this unnatural cold! There’s likely a legendary Strange Fire beneath us—the Netherworld Nine Flames!" The young man hesitated for a moment but chose to tell the truth.
As Si Lanyi had guessed, he was a Spirit Pill Master. Although Ning Xuan also possessed a Strange Fire, the young man was already aware of Ning Xuan’s martial exploits. Someone with such heaven-defying strength in Martial Arts is unlikely to also possess an equally heaven-defying Strange Fire. As for competition... in a martial contest, I might not be his match. But when it comes to Strange Fire, I fear no one at this stage!
"Netherworld Nine Flames? The legendary earth fire from the Netherworld! Its flames are black and incredibly hot, but they go dormant for nine days each year. Is that the one?"
The young man looked at Si Lanyi in surprise. "I’m surprised you know of it, milady. Yes, that’s it!" he admitted openly.
Si Lanyi nodded in realization. "No wonder the Canglan River freezes for nine days every year. The extreme yin coldness means it has returned to the Netherworld! This must be the Netherworld Nine Flames’ self-preservation mechanism."
"Now is the best time to capture it! Do you two need it? If so, I can lend you a hand." The youth was feigning retreat to advance his own position, his gaze sincere.
Si Lanyi said nothing.
"No need," Ning Xuan said, shaking his head. "If you need help, however, just say the word. Consider it an apology for what happened earlier."
Ning Xuan was equally magnanimous. Although he didn’t fear the youth, he felt it was necessary to address his unintentional blunder.
"Thank you," the youth said with a smile, saying nothing more.
Ning Xuan understood his meaning. He nodded, and then he and Si Lanyi departed.
"Brother, your dog!" the youth called out from behind.
Without turning back, Ning Xuan replied, "It’s fine. It’ll be alright in a moment."
As soon as Ning Xiang and Si Lanyi disappeared, the ice on Xiao Bai cracked apart, and it vanished in a streak of light.
The youth stared blankly into the distance.
"Young Master, would you like me to..." The space beside the youth rippled, and a slightly hunched old woman suddenly appeared. She didn’t finish her sentence, instead making a throat-slitting gesture.
A strange light flashed in the youth’s eyes before he shook his head. "There’s not much time. Let’s not create unnecessary complications. Besides, they pose no threat to me!"
The old crone understood the hidden meaning in his words. If they pose no threat, they can be ignored. But if they become a threat, show no mercy and eliminate them swiftly!
The youth waved his hand, and the old woman vanished without a trace. He remained at the ferry crossing, pacing back and forth as he searched for a foolproof plan.
"That young man’s Martial Arts Cultivation wasn’t weak, and he has likely achieved a rank as a Spirit Pill Master. It seems not everyone from the eighteen eastern counties is a worthless fool," Si Lanyi remarked thoughtfully as they walked.
Ning Xuan nodded in deep agreement.
As they spoke, they arrived at the square. To their surprise, it was once again swarming with people.
"So strong!"
"That speed is on par with Si Lanyi and Ning Xuan!"
"The crucial thing is, she’s also a Dao Xuan Master!"
Before they even got close, they heard the crowd’s discussion. They immediately stopped and looked toward the Heavenly Stele. A name on it was steadily climbing. Finally, it settled in the fourth position. Ahead of her were Si Lanyi, Ning Yang, and Ning Xuan!
The Void Gate opened, and a woman with a fiery figure emerged. Dressed in red, she was dazzling and sultry, radiating a dangerous aura.
Feng Yan County, Shentu Yan, seventeen years old, a Second Grade Dao Xuan Master!
Seeing her, some in the crowd couldn’t help but gulp.
"Am I beautiful?" Shentu Yan asked, looking over at them with a blossoming smile.
"Beauti—ah!"
The young man who had just spoken cried out in agony. A ball of fire engulfed him, instantly reducing him to ashes.
"Little sister, what do you think of my Scorching Sun Storm?" Shentu Yan asked Si Lanyi with a smile.
Although Meng Luo called Si Lanyi "sister" in Destiny City, Si Lanyi was actually two years younger than both Meng Luo and Ning Xuan, being only sixteen this year. Shentu Yan recognized Si Lanyi because she had just been sizing her up on the Heavenly Stele Battlefield.
"A very impressive Primordial Dao Xuan Technique," Si Lanyi acknowledged with a nod.
"And yet, your rank is still ahead of mine," Shentu Yan said, and as the words left her mouth, she attacked. She completely ignored Ning Xuan, who was standing beside Si Lanyi.
BOOM!
Si Lanyi and Ning Xuan were instantly engulfed in the fierce blaze.
Third place on the Heavenly Stele? Not so impressive after all! Shentu Yan sneered. She had only lost on the battlefield due to carelessness. Now, she had finally proven herself.
