Chapter 161

Chapter 161: The Exotic Flame Is Snatched

This cluster of Exotic Flame, this old man will gladly accept it.

A feverish light burst from Zhu Chun’s clouded eyes. He took out a pill and swallowed it, then slapped a Talisman onto himself and shot toward the Exotic Flame hanging in midair.

Zhu Chun had prepared thoroughly; techniques for Taming Exotic Flames came out one after another.

In the end, that cluster of Exotic Flame was subdued by Zhu Chun.

With a good start made, within half a day Rong Shu’s group encountered another cluster of Exotic Flame, this one tinged with violet.

This time it was Su Hua’s turn.

But before Su Hua could act, a golden halo flew in from afar and locked the violet Exotic Flame tight, then looped over it and landed it neatly into the hand of a suddenly appearing young man.

This Exotic Flame belongs to this young master.

The youth wore specially made gloves and actually toyed with the Exotic Flame in his palm. By his side stood a middle-aged uncle.

Who are you, snapped Su Hua, eyes bulging.

Zong Wen Shi also spoke up in protest: Shouldn’t we at least speak of first come, first served?

First come, first served? The youth laughed as though he had heard a joke.

Uncle Feng.

At his word, the uncle at his side took out a pill without hesitation and swallowed it.

In the blink of an eye, the uncle’s aura surged sharply. From late Foundation Establishment, it climbed bit by bit, finally stopping at early Golden Core.

Sensing the Golden Core Stage aura, Han Cheng Yun and the others were incredulous:

Golden Core aura? How is that possible?

How could a cultivator reach the Golden Core Stage inside the Scorchfire Secret Realm?

The youth’s face was all haughty disdain: Now, do you still have objections?

Rong Shu alone did not show excessive alarm. She had already slipped behind Han Cheng Yun and whispered: Fellow Daoist Han, these two are not ordinary. We should avoid their edge for now.

Li Rong Mountain is vast. Finding another Exotic Flame will not be difficult.

Han Cheng Yun was thinking the same, but as the strongest in the team, he could not be the first to retreat. Hearing Rong Shu bring it up herself, he exhaled in relief: So it must be.

Seeing Rong Shu and the others slink away, the youth’s mocking voice rang out again: A bunch of trash.

Su Hua, the most hot-tempered, could not help wanting to turn back, but Su Meng caught his arm in time and said quietly: Go.

Only when they had gone far enough did they stop.

That one just now is likely some scion of a great clan. He exploited a loophole in the secret realm’s rules by using pills to boost his strength.

Those two’s backgrounds are certainly not simple.

We will search for Exotic Flames in the opposite direction and do our best to avoid running into them again.

Rong Shu watched as Han Cheng Yun and the others, still rattled, discussed their next move. She raised a hand to stroke Little Hamster, who had been obediently perched on her shoulder.

At that moment, Little Hamster’s ears twitched. Sensing something, he craned his neck and peered about.

Then he tugged at Rong Shu’s collar with his paw: Gugu!

What is it? Hungry?

Rong Shu lifted Little Hamster from her shoulder and cradled him in her palm.

The last sentence was for Han Cheng Yun and the others walking ahead to hear.

Gugu! Little Hamster pointed at the Flame Mark on his forehead—now invisible under the dye—then pointed in a certain direction.

Seeing this, a trace of surprise rose in Rong Shu’s eyes.

Could it be what she suspected?

[Rong Shu: Yan Yan, can you sense where the Exotic Flame is?]

[Little Hamster: Yeah, yeah! Over there!]

Seeing Little Hamster nod frantically in assurance, Rong Shu believed him.

As she took a fruit from her Storage Pouch to feed Little Hamster, she calculated how to guide Han Cheng Yun and the others toward the suspected Exotic Flame without arousing suspicion.

Her gaze swept the surroundings and fell on an inconspicuous patch of wildflowers in a corner.

Those were not wildflowers at all, but Flame Eater Blossoms, a kind of spirit herb.

Because their function was simply to absorb heat and they were of no benefit to cultivation, almost no one paid them any attention.

An idea rose in Rong Shu’s mind. Pointing toward the Flame Eater Blossoms, she said to Han Cheng Yun and the others: The Flame Eater Blossoms over there are blooming nicely. They prefer high-temperature environments. Why not search in that direction? We might find something.

With no clear target at the moment, her suggestion dispelled the fog of indecision in their hearts.

Then we do as Fellow Daoist Lin says.

Han Cheng Yun and the others did not harbor high hopes of encountering a third Exotic Flame in a single day.

Besides, having just had one snatched, their moods were somewhat affected.

Rong Shu still took up the rear, her eyes ceaselessly studying the terrain.

Gradually, she felt they had been descending the whole time, and the ambient temperature had risen considerably.

After nearly three hours of walking, just as Han Cheng Yun and the others were about to give up and change direction—

A cluster of deep-blue fire floated up from the roiling magma. It wobbled as it drifted, as though it might sputter out at any moment.

There really is an Exotic Flame.

It feels like this Exotic Flame’s grade is not too high. Such a small Exotic Flame looks newly born… who wants to try?

They looked from one to another. Stifling his simmering anger, Su Hua shot forward with a shout: I will.

This time… it will definitely be mine.

Su Hua fixed his eyes on the dancing Exotic Flame, and twin tongues of fire surged up from his palms, lashing toward it.

But before he could get within ten paces of the Exotic Flame, the heat waves it shed of its own accord scalded his whole body with pain.

Hissing, Su Hua had to halt and widen the distance.

Damn it, he growled, I cannot even get close.

Seeing this, Han Cheng Yun called out quickly: Let us compete fairly. Whoever can take this Exotic Flame, it will be theirs.

At that, the others took turns attempting to approach, but without exception, the sparks spitting from the Exotic Flame forced them all back.

If we do not secure it quickly and run into other cultivators, it will become troublesome, Han Cheng Yun muttered, frowning as several proved unable to progress.

With everyone stymied, Rong Shu glanced down at Little Hamster in her palm. He puffed out his chest and patted it with his tiny paw, as if to say that everything was on him.

I will try.

Rong Shu spoke to the others, then, in full view, swallowed several pills before walking toward the Exotic Flame.

Fellow Daoist Lin, if it does not work, retreat at once.

Be careful, Fellow Daoist Lin.

The nearer she drew to the Exotic Flame, the more she felt her Fire Spiritual Root stir within her, [hungry, wanting to eat flame].

As Rong Shu stepped into the zone of heat radiating from the Exotic Flame, the Flame Mark on Little Hamster’s forehead gave a faint glow.

Silently, the searing heat that should have gnawed at Rong Shu’s skin was “absorbed” by Little Hamster.

To Han Cheng Yun and the others, however, it simply looked as though Rong Shu was unaffected by the heat, moving with ease.

The thought had scarcely formed when they saw Rong Shu’s figure suddenly sway, as if she could no longer support herself.

The next instant, Rong Shu’s cry of pain rang out.

At once, Han Cheng Yun and the others discarded their earlier impression.