CHAPTER 217

The flames surged, and small fireballs kept falling from above, one cluster after another.

Qian Ziyan kept moving his feet, but his hands never stopped plucking the strings of his guqin.

Wisps of pale blue spiritual power shot up again and again, striking at the top.

Every time the flames fell above Qian Ziyan’s head, he dodged them with ease.

“Big brother, let me help you.”

Qian Yiling pulled a short flute from her space.

The flute was about the size of an adult man’s palm, pitch black all over.

Under the red glow, something seemed to flow from within it.

The melodious sound of the flute formed its own rhythm, the ethereal and high-pitched notes wrapping all the falling flames together, intentionally or not piling them up in one spot.

Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan both let out a sigh of relief, but even so, the flames above were like endless rain.

The tension between the two sides was at its peak.

Xiao Miao dodged the fire with ease, but the flames he had suppressed seemed to be rising again.

Mu Sheng watched nervously from the side and encouraged, “Xiao Miao, you have to keep them down.”

Xiao Miao nodded hard.

“Mmm—”

Dongfang Minghui felt the blinding light was always there, so she simply closed her eyes.

Her whole body felt weightless, as if she was falling endlessly.

She even suspected someone was pulling her down, so she squeezed Little Fatty’s hand tightly.

“I must be dreaming.”

Little Colour hesitated for a moment and said, “Little Fatty doesn’t look so good.”

Ignoring the risk of going blind, Dongfang Minghui jerked her head up to face the blinding light, her eyelids instinctively flinching.

From an angle she couldn’t see, Little Fatty’s body had stretched to the height of an adult, and the hands holding the Tianyin Helmet had turned blood red.

Inside the Tianyin Helmet, Little Bean Sprout was bent into an upside-down U shape, its stem showing incredible resilience.

A flower bud shrank and trembled in the obsidian soil.

In Little Bean Sprout’s hazy memory, this was the biggest disaster it had ever faced.

The approaching flames carried a world-destroying power.

Just getting close made its hard-won soul feel like it was being torn apart, the pain unbearable.

“This won’t do.

If this keeps up, we’re all going to die.”

“Yeah.”

Dongfang Minghui was the first to kick Lien hard twice, hoping to catch him off guard and kick him down like she did with Uncle Wood.

Unfortunately, she underestimated Lien’s stubbornness.

No matter how many times she kicked, he didn’t budge, and he even seemed to take pride in dying with her.

“Lien, let go.”

“No.”

Young Lien’s forehead was covered in sweat, his eyes red, stubbornness written all over his face as he clung to his last bit of purity.

“Witch, just hold on a little longer.”

Dongfang Minghui also wanted to hold on a bit longer.

She wanted to last until Seventh sister woke up, until they found a weakness in the Longevity Cauldron, or best of all, until they all escaped alive.

But she could tell Little Fatty couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Lien, let go.”

“No way!”

As she pleaded, Little Colour’s vine tried to reach past Little Fatty, but was scalded by the heat radiating from Little Fatty’s body, making it scream in pain.

It quickly moved to the Tianyin Helmet and tugged at Little Bean Sprout.

Little Bean Sprout seemed to sense something and lifted its tiny head.

The moment it saw Little Colour, it started trembling uncontrollably, though it was unclear if it was from fear or excitement.

Little Colour tried to use its vine to flip the Tianyin Helmet over, but the helmet was so hot it nearly burned the vine to a crisp, peeling off a layer of skin.

“Help—ah!”

If it were at full strength, it might have had a chance.

But faced with this nemesis, especially the true fire of the dragon clan, Little Colour felt its days were numbered.

Only now did it realize it had spent too much time with its natural enemy.

Born in hardship, dead in comfort—what a painful realization!

Little Fatty watched the vine circling the Tianyin Helmet in her hands.

After a moment, she understood what it wanted and used all her strength to flip the helmet over.

“Ah—”

The Tianyin Helmet rattled.

With their combined effort, it was slowly turned upside down.

Normally, the obsidian soil inside would never spill out, but as the helmet flipped, the soil slid out easily with a whoosh.

Everyone only saw a lump of black stuff falling and thought it was just some leftover ash from the flames above.

Qian Wanyu, under the combined assault of the guqin and flute, forcibly woke herself from her trance.

Earlier, Qing Mo’s light touch had almost sent her into the Longevity Cauldron as fuel, to be devoured by the flames.

Ordinary fire couldn’t harm her spirit body, but the true fire of the dragon clan above could burn almost anything.

Qing Mo’s soul was badly injured and fell into a deep sleep before he could say anything.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw what the black thing was.

Without hesitation, she leapt into the air and caught Little Bean Sprout.

Little Bean Sprout had turned into a dying sprout, limp in Qian Wanyu’s hand.

Qian Wanyu’s expression was complicated.

The promise she made to Little Fatty seemed to shatter the moment she saw Little Bean Sprout on the verge of death.

But she didn’t have time to wonder what had happened.

Looking up, she saw three people pulling each other, being dragged toward the flames.

“Mom, take care of Little Bean Sprout for me.”

Qian Wanyu wrapped Little Bean Sprout in gentle spiritual power and sent it through the air to Qian Yiling.

Having done her part, Little Colour zipped back into the soul sea, only managing to say, “We’re doomed.”

Dongfang Minghui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least she’d managed to save one before dying, and saw Seventh sister wake up.

If there was enough time, she’d have switched places with Little Fatty and thrown off stubborn Lien too.

Dying alone was better than all three going together.

Unfortunately, there was no time.

“Get down here!”

Qian Wanyu grabbed Lien’s leg and yanked hard, a surge of spiritual power sweeping everyone aside.

She stood there like a war god, unmoving.

The force of her blow made the bronze wall tremble, showing just how much strength she used.

Lien’s veins bulged in pain, and that pull nearly crushed his ankle.

But he sincerely hoped Qian Wanyu below could hold on a bit longer, maybe even help pull the witch down.

“Seventh sister.”

“Get down!”

Qian Wanyu struck the bronze wall with spiritual power again and again.

After several hits, the wall finally let out a long hum.

Dongfang Minghui felt something wet sliding down from above.

She sniffed—it was the smell of blood.

Little Fatty seemed to sense her gaze and looked down at her.

Blood was streaming from her eyes, nose, ears, and even the corners of her mouth.

She looked like a bloody mess, but acted as if she felt no pain, opening her mouth at Dongfang Minghui.

“Ah.”

“Little Fatty, let go.” Dongfang Minghui’s voice trembled.

The image of blood pouring from all seven of Little Fatty’s orifices was burned into her mind.

“Please, let go.”

Little Fatty let out a sound, her whole body radiating heat like molten lava.

Dongfang Minghui watched as her own hands, gripping Little Fatty’s ankles, were burned bright red.

“Let go, or your hands will be ruined.” Little Colour had turned into a sapling, but that didn’t stop it from raging in the soul sea.

“Can you guarantee that if I let go, I won’t be dragged away?” Dongfang Minghui muttered.

Her body was already floating upward, held down only by Lien’s grip on her legs.

If there was no one below, she’d be the first to be swallowed by the flames.

She didn’t understand why Little Fatty was so obsessed with the Tianyin Helmet.

At first, she thought it was just because she was worried about Little Bean Sprout, but now she realized she’d been wrong all along.

What Little Fatty really cared about was the Tianyin Helmet that held Little Bean Sprout.

Little Colour was speechless.

She really couldn’t guarantee that the Longevity Cauldron was after the bean sprout and not the Tianyin Helmet.

Otherwise, when Little Bean Sprout slipped out of the helmet just now, she would have been swallowed by the flames first.

“Looks like we’re destined to die together.”

Dongfang Minghui burst out laughing.

No matter what, having someone with you on the road to death didn’t feel so bad.

“Ninth Sister, let go!”

Dongfang Minghui glanced at them blankly, only then remembering the Water Thunder Whip at her waist.

She let go of Little Fatty with one hand, and immediately noticed that they rose a little higher, getting even closer to death.

Her hand was burned and swollen, thick and clumsy, but she still managed to unfasten the Water Thunder Whip at her waist.

They say pain runs to the heart through the fingers, but right now she felt nothing, just smiled, “Seventh sister, catch!”

Qian Wanyu caught it barehanded, but in that moment, her feet were pulled off the ground.

“Lynn, sorry.”

“Witch!”

Dongfang Minghui’s fingers were numb, but as she undid the Water Thunder Whip, she suddenly remembered the hidden weapons in her love knot.

Whether it was the plum blossom darts or the flying needles, she could hit Lynn’s wrists.

As long as he lost a bit of strength, she could save him and Seventh sister.

She pulled out several silver needles.

With a flash, Lynn sensed something was wrong, but before he could react, both his wrists went numb.

He lost his grip and fell straight down, only able to watch as they were pulled closer to the blazing fire.

“Ninth Sister, don’t you dare!” Qian Wanyu’s spiritual power exploded in anger, and she whipped her long whip at Dongfang Minghui’s waist.

“Seventh sister.” Dongfang Minghui smiled, a single tear glinting in her eye.

When the whip lashed out, Lynn was happy for a moment, but only for a moment.

The Water Thunder Whip wasn’t as fast as they were moving.

The two figures crossed paths, but the tip of the whip couldn’t catch anyone.

Everyone just saw the two of them quickly disappear into the flames.

Hiss—

Little Green’s vine let go at the last second.

Mu Sheng covered his mouth, eyes wide in shock, unable to believe it.

Qian Wanyu stared blankly upward, unmoved even as the Water Thunder Whip fell from midair.

The fire at the top, after swallowing Little Fatty and Dongfang Minghui, seemed partially satisfied, shrinking a little, its golden light dimming.

The falling flames vanished into thin air, as if the earlier rain of fireballs had just been an illusion.

Lynn collapsed to the ground, bow and arrows scattered everywhere, unable to get up for a long time.

Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan both stopped fighting.

The temperature around them dropped sharply, the flames lost their aggression, and they could finally catch their breath.

But the price for calming the fire—was too high, none of them could bear it.

Qian Wanyu just stood there, her eyes turning dark red, her aura growing overwhelming and fierce.

Anyone who got close could feel the bone-chilling cold, the aura of death gathering around her.

Behind her, a black vortex appeared, at first just the size of a fist, barely noticeable, but as her spiritual power surged, it grew into a black hole.

“Yu’er.”

Qian Yiling tried to approach, but as soon as she did, she felt her spiritual power draining rapidly.

The aura of death around Qian Wanyu was so heavy, she stared in disbelief, unable to accept that her power was being devoured bit by bit.

“Yu’er, stop!”

Qian Wanyu slowly looked up, her blood-red eyes cold and lifeless, staring at her like she was nothing.

“She’s fallen into a heart demon.”

Qian Ziyan plucked his zither strings, but unlike before, the melody was gentle, like a spring breeze and soft rain, soothing to the soul.

Even though Qian Yiling’s heart ached, she knew that once a heart demon took root, it would not only affect cultivation but also torment her endlessly.

So she took out her flute, and the two played together.

Mu Sheng’s eyes were red.

“Sister Wanyu is just too heartbroken.”

Zhi Lan was still in shock, kneeling to the side.

She hadn’t even had time to thank the witch for saving her, and never expected she’d be the first to leave.

Wave after wave of spiritual power brushed past Qian Wanyu, but she treated them all as attacks, devouring them completely.

The black hole behind her grew larger, almost as tall as a person.

As she stopped hiding her power, the fiery red mark on her forehead gradually appeared.

Qian Ziyan frowned deeply.

“Blood oath.”

Qian Yiling suddenly remembered something she’d long forgotten.

She’d once heard about the blood oath from Xiao Jiu, but had been distracted by the two little ones.

Qian Yiling trembled all over, a nameless fear rising from her feet to her heart.

“Big brother, what happens if the blood oath isn’t broken?”

“Don’t panic yet.” Qian Ziyan suddenly thought of something.

“Lingling, do you have anything of Xiao Jiu’s with you?”

Qian Yiling was confused at first, then remembered the sketchbook Xiao Jiu had given her.

“I do.

Big brother, what are you planning?”

Qian Ziyan was just putting himself in her shoes.

From what Wanyu said, after that person died, his biggest regret was not having anything of his left.

He always wanted to capture his image before he forgot.

“She’s heartbroken, that’s why she fell into a heart demon.”

“Xiao Jiu.” Qian Yiling felt sorry for her too, though she couldn’t figure out why the Longevity Cauldron chose Xiao Jiu.

But now wasn’t the time to discuss it.

“Big brother, will it really work?”

“Let’s just try.”

When Qian Yiling took out the sketchbook, she also brought out Little Bean Sprout.

The stem she’d propped up before had drooped again, looking even worse than before.

Qian Yiling gently stroked Little Bean Sprout’s bud.

The usually lively medicinal plants seemed to be silently crying against the obsidian soil.

“Xiao Jiu said you’re intelligent, Little Bean Sprout.

If you can understand me, help me bring Yu’er back.

Maybe if she sees you, she’ll be able to control herself.”

“As someone who’s like a mother to you, I’m begging you.”

Little Bean Sprout lifted its little head and gently nuzzled her finger.

Qian Ziyan pointed at the pale blue wind spiritual power surrounding Little Bean Sprout.

“Wanyu won’t attack it.”

Even so, when Qian Yiling handed it to Qian Wanyu, she was ready to snatch it back at any moment.

This medicinal plants was special—it was something Xiao Jiu had fought death to save, practically her life.

The spiritual barrier around Little Bean Sprout was set by Qian Wanyu herself, so she had no defenses against it.

Qian Wanyu stared at it with blood-red eyes, and Little Bean Sprout straightened up, looking back at her in its silly way.

One refused to speak, the other couldn’t.

The two of them—one person, one plant—were locked in a standoff.

“Yu’er, this is the Little Bean Sprout Xiao Jiu risked her life to protect.

Do you remember?”

Qian Yiling’s words only made it worse.

Qian Wanyu remembered how that person had abandoned her for this bean sprout.

The fire in her eyes burned even brighter, her killing intent and aura of death even stronger.

Qian Wanyu’s lips curled into a chilling smile as she stroked Little Bean Sprout’s stem, ready to snap it.

“Don’t, Yu’er.”

Qian Ziyan frowned.

“Throw her the sketchbook.

Whether she destroys it or keeps it, it’s her choice.”

Qian Yiling reluctantly stroked the picture book one more time.

She had no idea how many times she’d read it; she could recite every word by heart.

By now, it was more than just a picture book—it was the only thing tying her to the two children.

In Qian Wanyu’s mind, she pictured a dozen ways to kill Little Bean Sprout.

But Little Bean Sprout wasn’t trembling in fear like it had in the face of fire before.

Instead, it flopped over to the side, stretched out its neck, as if waiting for her blade to fall.

The whole medicinal plants radiated a sense of utter despair and deathly stillness.

She raised her hand, gathering a wisp of gray spirit power, aiming it straight at Little Bean Sprout.

But Little Bean Sprout, lying on the obsidian soil, didn’t move at all.

At the last moment, Qian Wanyu suddenly withdrew her dark spirit power.

“You don’t want to live anymore either?”

Either?

Qian Yiling was startled by these words and hurriedly wrapped the picture book in wind spirit power, sending it over to her.

But halfway there, Lien suddenly intervened, snatching the picture book away.

“This is the last thing the witch left behind.

If you don’t cherish it, I won’t give it to you.”

Lien wanted to snatch Little Bean Sprout back too, but he was powerless.

Qian Wanyu had twisted his ankle earlier, so he was limping, clutching the picture book in both hands like it was the most precious thing in the world.

“Heh.” Qian Yiling sneered.

“You want to die?”

“I don’t want to die.” Lien hugged the picture book, not even willing to open it, just running his big hand over the already wrinkled cover.

The cover was plain, but also special: a little figure carrying a beautiful silk umbrella, another little figure with a whip flying in her hand, and a tiny beast beside them that looked exactly like a miniature Toothless.

Lien didn’t want to admit it, but those two looked so compatible.

He’d known what their relationship was for a long time, and just wanted to stay by her side.

The person on the cover looked exactly like when he first met her—a tiny person carrying a weapon almost bigger than herself.

“Give it to me.”

A fierce light flashed in Qian Wanyu’s eyes, and the black hole behind her grew even larger, its suction pulling everyone in.

Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan stood their ground, but Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan couldn’t withstand the force.

“Wanyu-jie, wake up! If Minghui were still here, she definitely wouldn’t want to see you fall into heart demons.”

“Shut up!”

Qian Wanyu flicked her fingers, sending Mu Sheng flying.

If Qian Ziyan hadn’t grabbed him, Mu Sheng would have been seriously injured, if not dead.

But Qian Wanyu didn’t care at all.

Five streams of spirit power swirled around Lien, lifting him high and slamming him to the ground, over and over, dozens of times.

Lien coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, then struggled to his feet, drew his bow, and fired five arrows in a row.

Those arrows that were always unstoppable were nothing in front of Qian Wanyu.

She was an archer herself.

She spread her five fingers, and a black hole-like force dissolved all five arrows into dust.

“If you like arrows so much, I’ll let you see what my Samsara Bow can do.”

“Yu’er, what are you doing?”

“Sending him to his death!”

If Qing Mo were still awake, he’d stop her with his last breath.

But unfortunately, Qing Mo was asleep, never expecting her to go this mad, actually wanting to kill Lien—the only one who could possibly be Qian Ying’s son—right here.

Qian Wanyu took out the Samsara Bow in front of them.

The moment it appeared, the overwhelming aura around her diminished a little.

Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling both gasped.

The Samsara Bow had always been in the Qian Family’s armory.

When they were young, they always wanted to pick it up, but even by the year they left, no one had managed to lift it.

They exchanged glances, already knowing they weren’t a match for Qian Wanyu.

It should have been something to celebrate, but seeing her fall into heart demons, killing indiscriminately, Qian Yiling felt both heartbroken and helpless.

Qian Yiling handed the real Eye of Truth to Qian Ziyan.

“Big brother, keep this for me.

If you ever get a chance to find Lance—” She’d wanted to bring Yu’er to see him if they ever found Lance.

But Qian Ziyan refused.

“He’s your man.

If you want to find him, you should do it yourself.

Or do you want your big brother to find him for you?”

Qian Yiling shook her head, half laughing, half crying.

“Forget it.”

Whether she searched or not, it probably didn’t matter anymore.

“Big brother, let’s think of a way to calm Yu’er down.” Qian Yiling had no other ideas.

The music she and her brother played had no effect on Yu’er, and trying to use Xiao Jiu to soothe her only made things worse.

Qian Wanyu glanced at the two of them, clear disdain in her eyes.

She pressed her palm down, quickly condensing a slender arrow out of spirit power.

“It’s a spirit arrow.”

“She really wants to kill Lien.”

Lien wasn’t afraid at all.

In fact, he smiled happily.

“Go ahead, kill me.

At least I’ll get to follow the witch sooner.

If I’d met the witch before you did—”

After falling into heart demons, all the dissatisfaction buried deep in Qian Wanyu’s heart was magnified.

Lien, unfortunately, had touched her sore spots too many times.

In her eyes, he was unforgivable—he had to die.

“Yu’er, don’t!”

“She’s already lost to her heart demons.

Words are useless.”

The Samsara Bow was drawn to its fullest.

The spirit arrow blasted Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling aside as they tried to intercept, then shot straight at Lien.

Lien fired an arrow too, but his last arrow didn’t even touch the hem of Qian Wanyu’s clothes before it was devoured into nothing.

The spirit arrow struck his heart.

Lien’s brows furrowed slightly, but he fell with a bright, springlike smile.

The picture book slipped from his clothes to the ground, and Lien’s fingers curled, trying to pull the last thing the witch left behind back into his arms.

Before the spirit arrow could be withdrawn, Qian Wanyu suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed right after Lien.

“Wanyu-jie!”

“Yu’er, what’s wrong?”

Qian Ziyan checked Lien’s pulse first, then his wounds.

There was a red spot on his chest, clearly from the spirit arrow.

He’d used wind spirit power to change the arrow’s direction, but it still hit.

“It was fate.”

“Big brother, there’s something wrong with Yu’er’s forehead.”

Qian Ziyan reached out to touch it, but found that all of Qian Wanyu’s spirit power was surging out of control, like a masterless ghost, rampaging inside the Longevity Cauldron.

Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan were the first to suffer—one collapsed, the other fell unconscious.

“It’s a blood oath.”

“Blood oath?” Qian Yiling was a little panicked.

“But a blood oath only activates when you break your vow.

Why would Yu’er’s blood oath suddenly go wild now?”

Qian Ziyan’s gaze flickered back and forth between Qian Wanyu and Lien, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn’t figure out that hidden layer.

He just pulled the dazed and lost Qian Yiling aside.

“Defend.”

The two of them used wind element spiritual power to keep Qian Wanyu’s wild, aggressive energy at bay, buying a sliver of hope for Mu Sheng, Zhi Lan, Toothless, and Xiao Miao behind them.

The wind barrier they set up was small, but it gave them a rare moment of peace.

Qian Ziyan checked on the unconscious Mu Sheng.

His spiritual power was in chaos, probably still affected by the flames inside the Longevity Cauldron.

He tried to draw out the fire element energy that had invaded Mu Sheng’s body.

“I can do it.”

Xiao Miao, having seen Little Fatty check for leaks before, wanted to help out in this mess.

Without a word, Qian Ziyan made room, watching as Xiao Miao decisively sucked the faint fire element energy out of Mu Sheng, then nervously did the same for Zhi Lan and the others.

After finishing, Xiao Miao found a spot near Toothless to sit down, going back to being a quiet background character.

So many twists and turns left everyone in no mood to talk.

Zhi Lan stayed by Mu Sheng’s side, glancing at Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan, but said nothing.

Qian Yiling looked at the unconscious person across from her.

She was Yu’er’s mother, yet she couldn’t even get close to her.

It felt like a real failure.

She took out the Eye of Truth and gently stroked the eye on it.

Qian Ziyan looked up at the ball of fire at the top.

Ever since Xiao Jiu and Little Fatty had sacrificed to the Longevity Cauldron, the flames inside seemed to have calmed down a bit.

He took out a wooden carving, rubbing the head with his fingers.

“Lu Xing, what do you want me to do?”

If he used up all his cultivation, maybe he could break open the Longevity Cauldron.

“Big brother, the barrier’s about to break.”

“Yeah, reinforce it.”

In less than half an hour, Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling had reinforced the barrier three times.

They both knew that at most, it would last another two hours.

If the others didn’t wake up by then, they might not be refined by the cauldron, but they’d probably be eaten as spiritual energy supplements.

But after just one hour, Qian Wanyu woke up on her own, sitting up straight.

Her eyes were confused at first, but when she saw Lien lying on the ground, her gaze cleared.

She touched the burning blood oath on her forehead, looked at the Samsara Bow in her hand, and more or less realized what stupid thing she’d done.

“Big brother, Yu’er looks awake.”

Qian Ziyan watched Qian Wanyu’s expression.

Seeing her return to her usual cold self, he withdrew the small barrier.

At the same time, Qian Wanyu pulled back her raging spiritual power.

Everything returned to normal, but the little lamp at the top, always lit, reminded them that it wasn’t over.

“Did I kill Lien?”

“Yes.”

Qian Wanyu rubbed her forehead.

After a long silence, she suddenly laughed arrogantly.

“Destiny.”

“Yu’er, don’t fall into a heart demon.

That’ll ruin you forever.”

“I won’t.” There would never be another chance.

Qian Wanyu smiled with a hint of relief, looked at Qian Yiling, reached out, and gently touched her cool cheek.

“Mom, no matter what, I’ll get you and uncle out of here safely.”

With that, Qian Wanyu gripped the Samsara Bow tightly, gathering a thick, long spiritual arrow in her hand.

“Keep the barrier up.

I’m going to shoot through this Longevity Cauldron.”

Since no one was going to take the cauldron, she’d break it herself.

Even if it was made of iron and copper, it would break one day.

“Yu’er.”

“Let her vent.”

The two of them set up the barrier again, watching inside as Qian Wanyu gathered spiritual arrows faster and faster.

Each arrow Qian Wanyu formed was shorter than the last.

At first, when she shot at the top, it was like firing into a field of cotton—no reaction at all.

But she kept at it, over and over, refusing to stop until she shot out the flames at the top.

One hour, two hours, ten hours passed.

“Yu’er, that’s enough.” Qian Yiling couldn’t take it anymore.

Qian Wanyu’s arm could barely lift, her fingers were bleeding from drawing the bow, but she acted like she didn’t feel it.

“It’s not enough.

Not even close.”

Qian Wanyu tried to lift her hand, but Qian Ziyan pressed her shoulder down.

“Haste makes waste.”

Qian Wanyu knew that, but she was out of time.

Qian Ziyan seemed to guess her worry.

“The flames are fine for now.

You can cultivate first and continue later.

Even if it erupts, I know how to calm it down.

I can buy you enough time.”

With that, Qian Wanyu quickly entered meditation.

Seeing her finally cultivate, Qian Yiling relaxed, but suddenly asked, “Big brother, you said you could calm the flames at the top.

How?”

Qian Ziyan just smiled and said nothing.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

Qian Yiling’s just-relaxed brow furrowed again, and everyone fell into their own thoughts.

——

Xiao Miao kept his round eyes open, looking around.

First, he looked at the flickering flames at the top, then at Toothless lying on the side with just his tail showing, then at Zhi Lan and Mu Sheng, and finally at Lien.

He looked and looked, quietly playing the background, missing the days when Little Fatty was around.

Little Fatty was the first to really touch him, never afraid, sometimes picking up scraps by his side, sometimes teasing him.

Xiao Miao lifted his head, thinking Little Fatty had just gone to that place.

While everyone was meditating and no one was watching, he crawled up the wall bit by bit.

The dark red walls that others feared didn’t bother Xiao Miao at all.

The fire on them was gentle, and the patterns kept him from slipping.

Closer, closer.

Xiao Miao got nearer to the flames.

From the outside, they looked golden yellow, but the real fireball was in the center.

From a distance, it was beautiful, the flames dancing like a blooming golden fire lotus.

His master had told him he had to release this kind of flame, but he could only imitate it.

After trying the real thing on Toothless, he realized he’d never master the essence in this lifetime.

Xiao Miao stared at the flames, a little entranced.

“Little Fatty.”

Even though he called out softly, Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling were always on alert, especially watching the flames above.

When they heard the sound, they looked up and immediately saw Xiao Miao, as if bewitched, fearlessly reaching out toward the ball of fire.

“Xiao Miao, what are you doing!”

Qian Ziyan plucked his harp lightly, sending a faint blue wind-element spiritual power sweeping between his fingertips and the fireball.

Xiao Miao was so startled he shivered, then fell straight down from above.

“Ah—”

Qian Yiling caught him steadily with her spiritual power, holding him up.

“Xiao Miao, do you know how dangerous it is to get that close?”

Xiao Miao hung his head.

He didn’t mean to, he just wanted to see Little Fatty.

But Qian Ziyan said bluntly, “No matter what’s happened along the way, Wanyu has always kept you close.

Xiao Miao, be honest with us—did the fire above dazzle you, is that why you climbed up there alone?”

In his view, Xiao Miao’s personality was a bit timid.

Climbing up the wall like that didn’t seem like something he’d do.

Xiao Miao shook his head, sneaking a glance at Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling.

Seeing they weren’t angry, he quietly defended himself, “I just wanted to go up and see Little Fatty.”

At that, everyone fell silent for a rare moment.

Qian Yiling felt a strange ache in her chest.

She turned away, not wanting to dig into it any further.

That was a risky move just now—if they hadn’t noticed in time, their brief peace might have been lost.

Qian Ziyan was different.

Seeing how innocent Xiao Miao was, he kept asking, “You reached out just now, trying to touch that fireball.

Did you see something? Or—did you want us all to be refined by this Longevity Cauldron?”

Xiao Miao shook his head over and over.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then why?”

“It’s—it’s Little Fatty.” Xiao Miao stared at his toes under his robe.

Qian Ziyan was confused.

Talking to a kid was exhausting.

He tried, “Did Little Fatty tell you to touch it?”

Xiao Miao nodded at first, then shook his head, making them even more confused.

He mumbled, “Little Fatty is inside.

I just wanted to say hi to her.”

But Little Fatty seemed strange, really different—he could barely recognize her.

Hearing Xiao Miao’s childish words, the two felt even worse.

If Wanyu heard this, she’d probably lose control again.

Qian Ziyan decided not to press further, just warned him again, “Xiao Miao, you have to remember, stay away from that fire—for your sake, and for everyone’s.”

Xiao Miao was a little sad, but he agreed.

After all, it was because he couldn’t control himself at first that the fire flared up.

Now, he couldn’t even see Little Fatty anymore.

Drowned in loneliness, Xiao Miao obediently sat back in the distance.

He turned to glance at Toothless—Toothless was still lying far away, not moving at all, not even changing position.

Xiao Miao wanted to get closer, but he was super scared of Toothless.

After struggling inside, he gave up.

After Qian Ziyan finished, he muttered, “The Child of Flame is here.

By rights, he should be the one chosen by the Longevity Cauldron.

Why did it end up being Xiao Jiu as the sacrifice?”

Qian Yiling still didn’t know why the earlier accident happened, but she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

“Big brother, don’t bring up old wounds in front of Yu’er.

She can’t take it.”

“Okay.”

Toothless, who had been ignored all this time, was now lying with her eyes closed, hot breath coming from her nose, the fiery red gem on her forehead glowing strangely.

Since her back was to everyone, no one noticed anything odd about her.

Even Xiao Miao, sitting nearby, only felt that it seemed a bit hotter next to Toothless…?