Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Shen Sang Ruo Falls into the Volcano

All those pills were grade four or higher, and if she hadn’t wanted to buy them more time, Shen Sang Ruo would never have handed them over.

Before Feng He Yun and the others could even be shocked by how many high level pills she had, the Fire Phoenix attacked again. They dodged fast, gathered their wits, and understood what Shen Sang Ruo meant. In this situation, they could only choose to trust her.

Protecting a Junior Sister by drawing the monster’s attention was exactly what Senior Brothers should do. They agreed on a plan in a few words: Feng He Yun would lead, Lu Shi Qing would support, and together they would hold the Fire Phoenix’s gaze, while Wen Xuan, a healer who was not skilled at fighting, would guard Bai Mu Mu.

Shen Sang Ruo stuck several Swift Talismans on herself and shot through the rain of falling lava. The crater was a circle, and if she laid a Formation around the rim, it would trap the Fire Phoenix inside. When she couldn’t dodge a splash of lava in time, she yanked a defensive artifact from her Cosmos Pouch. One artifact after another burned out and broke, but luckily Ninghua Sect had given her enough. Even so, she was still scorched in several places. She swallowed a handful of pills, then kept weaving the Formation.

Feng He Yun and the others stared as she kept pulling out different artifacts, their eyes wide. Where did she get so many?

Feng He Yun got distracted for a heartbeat, and a winged flame from the Fire Phoenix grazed his cheek. The hot sting snapped him back. He gulped a pill and said to Lu Shi Qing, voice tight: “Third Junior Brother, you really got us into trouble!”

Lu Shi Qing answered between strikes: “You agreed I could pick Fire-Scale Vine too, so how can it all be my fault?”

Maybe because the Fire Phoenix was only a remnant shadow without a true body, its attacks were not as strong as a normal Fourth-Grade Demonic Beast. A strange balance formed between them and the Fire Phoenix.

The nest was some distance away. Bai Mu Mu stared at the Fire-Scale Vine and could not help thinking of something else. She tugged Wen Xuan’s sleeve and said in a low, sincere voice: “Second Senior Brother, the Fire Phoenix isn’t watching its nest right now. This is the best time to collect the Fire-Scale Vine. You have a flying artifact. You’ve already done so much for me; I don’t want to trouble you more. Please lend it to me, and I will go pick it myself.”

Wen Xuan refused without a thought, his tone firm: “No. It’s far too dangerous. I won’t let you go.”

Bai Mu Mu’s eyes reddened as she whispered: “You don’t understand. I’ve suffered from the Extreme Cold Constitution for so long. Even if there’s only a tiny chance, I must try.” He had been the one caring for her body, so of course he knew her pain. Seeing her like this, he wavered.

She pressed on, voice trembling: “If something happens to me, then that is my fate. Losing my life would even be a kind of release. Please, Second Senior Brother, let me go.”

In the end his heart softened, and he was completely swayed. He found a rock for her to hide behind and settled her there, then turned toward the nest.

Bai Mu Mu grabbed his arm, saying anxiously: “Second Senior Brother, no. I’ve already dragged you into this. How can I let you be in danger?”

Wen Xuan soothed her like coaxing a child, his voice gentle as he insisted: “It’s still better if I go. My cultivation is higher, and you cannot stand intense heat. A place like a volcano isn’t for you. Stay here and don’t come out. I’ll pick the Fire-Scale Vine for you.”

Bai Mu Mu hesitated, then yielded with worry on her face: “Then please be careful, Second Senior Brother.”

Wen Xuan answered softly and went. Careful to avoid the Fire Phoenix, he stepped onto his flying artifact and his figure vanished into the crater.

Behind the rock, Bai Mu Mu’s lips lifted in a pleased smile, and her gaze slid to Shen Sang Ruo, who was arranging the Formation at full speed. [I won’t allow any variables in my strategy. It’s time to remove this obstacle.]

She asked in her mind: “System, is there a way to attract the Fire Phoenix’s attention?”

The System replied at once, cool and clear: “Yes, Host.”

With the System’s help, she shifted the Fire Phoenix’s hatred onto herself, then ran straight toward Shen Sang Ruo.

Feng He Yun and Lu Shi Qing were dodging when they noticed the attacks thinning. They looked over and saw the Fire Phoenix locked onto Bai Mu Mu.

“Junior Sister!” they shouted together. They struck hard at the Fire Phoenix, trying to pull its attention back, but it ignored them as if only Bai Mu Mu existed.

“Damn it,” Lu Shi Qing snapped, then rushed with Feng He Yun to save her.

But laying the Formation demanded all of Shen Sang Ruo’s focus, especially since she wasn’t skilled with Formations. Even with written instructions guiding her, it took everything she had. With only one last step to complete, she stayed locked in and did not notice Bai Mu Mu leading the Fire Phoenix straight toward her.

Hot air flooded into Bai Mu Mu’s throat and made her cough, but when she imagined Shen Sang Ruo’s coming death, excitement curved her lips.

After being toyed with for so long, the Fire Phoenix’s rage peaked. It charged its strongest strike since the fight began and hurled it at Bai Mu Mu. Bai Mu Mu was almost on top of Shen Sang Ruo now, and the attack’s range covered both of them.

“Fifth Senior Sister, watch out!” Bai Mu Mu cried.

Shen Sang Ruo snapped her head up and saw the blazing strike racing toward her. She moved to dodge, but Bai Mu Mu shoved her hard. The push knocked Shen Sang Ruo partway out of danger, and if she had rolled twice more she could have escaped. But she suddenly felt as if countless chains bound her. She could not move at all.

The next instant, a sea of fire surged over her and devoured her.

“Fifth Junior Sister!”

“Shen Sang Ruo!”

Feng He Yun and Lu Shi Qing watched in horror as she was swept into the flames and fell into the volcano’s magma. A loud hum filled their minds, and every thought stopped dead.

Bai Mu Mu clutched her burned arm, but joy rushed through her heart. With the System’s power, she had frozen Shen Sang Ruo’s body the moment she touched her. Now Shen Sang Ruo was surely dead.

From the others’ point of view, she had pushed Shen Sang Ruo to save her, and she herself was hurt. Shen Sang Ruo had been too focused to react and got taken by the flames. The Fire Phoenix attacked her, she panicked and ran toward Shen Sang Ruo, which was understandable. Besides, she was a victim too. Feng He Yun and the rest would only think it was an accident.

Wen Xuan had just collected enough Fire-Scale Vine when he saw a Shadow Wraith drop and get swallowed by the magma. The flicker of a figure, the clothes, looked like Little Ruo. Something in Wen Xuan’s chest seemed to snap. He stared blankly at the churning lava.