Nanming Li Fire

The secret tunnel was exceedingly deep, extending almost into the belly of the mountain. The deeper they ventured, the higher the temperature soared. It was as though a miniature sun burned within, scorching them. Even with both of them circulating spiritual power to protect their bodies, they were drenched in sweat. Ahead, the red radiance grew ever more dazzling. It was a deep-red flame, entirely unlike anything Qin Sang had ever seen before, completely devoid of impurities. To Qin Sang's astonishment, he could actually sense an indescribable sanctity and majesty radiating from this mass of fire, evoking an irresistible urge to bow down in worship. In a daze, Qin Sang seemed to see a divine bird bathed in fire—peerless and magnificent, gazing down upon all creation with aloof indifference. The flickering tongues of fire dancing at its edges resembled poignant, beautiful plumes. It truly felt as if an ancient divine bird dwelt within. "Could this be a demon fire?" Utterly astonished, Qin Sang turned his head to ask Yunyouzi. Yunyouzi seemed to be searching for something, his gaze darting back and forth. Hearing Qin Sang's question, he nodded and said, "It could be the Nanming Li Fire—that is, the true natal fire of the legendary sacred beast, the Vermilion Bird. It is said that this fire incinerates all things. In some legends, it is depicted as white, while others believe it is red, just like the sacred Vermilion Bird itself. Whether it truly is the Nanming Li Fire can no longer be confirmed, as no one alive has ever truly laid eyes on the sacred Vermilion Bird. However..." Though they were still far from the demon fire, Yunyouzi came to a halt. Gazing at the mass of flames, he remarked with emotion, "The terrifying power of this fire is beyond question. Even if it is not the true natal fire of the sacred Vermilion Bird, it must be a fire wielded by some kind of ancient divine bird. The flame we see before us now is merely a manifestation brought about by the overflowing power of the demon fire. Its true core must actually be minuscule, concealed in the deepest depths where no one can fathom it..." Qin Sang stared intently at this mass of Nanming Li Fire. Legends of the Vermilion Bird had endured through the ages; it was a sacred beast said to coexist with immortals. Nowadays, even cultivators beyond the Deity Transformation stage were nowhere to be found, let alone such divine beasts of heaven and earth. Like its master, the Nanming Li Fire was also a legendary sacred fire. Many magic tools and magic treasures nowadays borrowed the name 'Nanming Li Fire', a testament to its renown. However, Qin Sang was already certain that those divine beasts were not merely fabricated legends. The qingluan was proof! He had seen a wooden carving of a qingluan at Granny Jing's place and knew that she had once sensed a qingluan's aura and witnessed its true form, proving that many divine beasts had indeed existed in this world. It was just that, much like almighty cultivators, they had all vanished without a trace. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Yunyouzi, Qin Sang took in the aura of the demon fire. Yunyouzi was right: even if it was not the Nanming Li Fire, it was undoubtedly the demon fire of some ancient divine beast. The aura radiating from this demon fire was even more terrifying than the Nine Nether Demonic Fire described by Patriarch Kuiyin. The seemingly awe-inspiring Ancestral Holy Fire of the Qingyang Demonic Sect would have no choice but to bow in subservience before it. And its true core was merely an insignificant wisp, whereas Patriarch Kuiyin had encountered a massive cluster when he found the Nine Nether Demonic Fire! The ancient alchemists of Ziwei Palace had actually used the Nanming Li Fire as an alchemical fire and sealed it here—could they have once imprisoned a Vermilion Bird? Qin Sang could not help imagining the grandeur of Ziwei Palace in its pristine prime, marveling enviously at the formidable methods of ancient cultivators. "Senior, do you intend to subdue this Nanming Li Fire?" Qin Sang tried to guess Yunyouzi's purpose in coming here. Yunyouzi had mentioned having to undergo a brush with death to heal his injuries—could it hinge on this Nanming Li Fire? Before entering the secret tunnel, Qin Sang had entertained a similar thought, wanting to emulate Patriarch Kuiyin by capturing a powerful spiritual fire to bolster his own strength. Yet after feeling the might of the Nanming Li Fire, Qin Sang abandoned the idea without hesitation. The Nanming Li Fire was far too terrifying; such an act would be nothing short of courting his own destruction. Qin Sang suspected that even Nascent Soul Patriarchs would have to keep their distance if they entered; no one would dare provoke the Nanming Li Fire. What method could Yunyouzi possibly have? "How could that be possible!" Yunyouzi chuckled helplessly and shook his head. "Even if those Nascent Soul Patriarchs and transformed great demons came, who among them would dare claim they could subdue the Nanming Li Fire? At least within the Lesser Cold Domain and the Heaven-Traversing Alliance, no one could accomplish it—none would even dare entertain the thought. This old Daoist is not so arrogant..." Under Qin Sang's stunned gaze, Yunyouzi said in a calm tone, "I merely wish to plunge myself into the Nanming Li Fire, using the demon fire to burn my flesh and temper my divine soul, so as to achieve rebirth through fire. As for whether the outcome will be a phoenix's nirvana or being reduced to ashes, that depends on this old Daoist's luck." Rebirth through fire, soul tempering via demon fire! Qin Sang was profoundly shaken. He had thought that being forced onto the corpse dao just to form a core was already shocking enough, never imagining that Yunyouzi was even more extreme—plainly seeking a glimmer of life from the impossible! Qin Sang had never heard of such a healing method. He wondered if Yunyouzi had gone mad. "Senior, are you truly out of options? Must it come to this?" Qin Sang felt a pang of reluctance and pity. No wonder Yunyouzi had kept saying it was a near-certain death. In Qin Sang's eyes, this was plainly a path with zero chance of survival. A moth throwing itself into the flame was nothing compared to this! Plunging into such a terrifying demon fire, one would instantly be reduced to ashes. No matter how miraculous the efficacy of the Three Light Jade Liquid might be, how much help could it really provide? "Is Senior's injury truly incurable by medicine? Once we leave Ziwei Palace, this junior will be able to form a core. When that time comes, I can travel with Senior to search for spirit pills. The cultivation world is so vast; we don't have to limit ourselves to the Lesser Cold Domain. Perhaps..." Yunyouzi interrupted Qin Sang and said in a heavy voice, "I have tried every possible means, but all in vain. The hidden injury on my body is beyond an ordinary person's comprehension. Even after scouring countless ancient texts, I found no precedent. The only way forward is to destroy and then rebuild. This old Daoist does not wish to grow old and die in the False Core stage. Even if there is only a sliver of hope, I must seize it firmly." Pausing, Yunyouzi softened his tone and said, "Rest assured, Brother Qin. If there were no chance at all, this old Daoist would certainly not throw his life away for nothing. Those three drops of Three Light Jade Liquid will be of immense help. Furthermore, I know of an object that can withstand the burning of the Nanming Li Fire and provide a degree of protection. That is also the reason I asked you to come with me." With that, Yunyouzi raised a hand and pointed deeper into the secret tunnel. "Hidden within lies a green bronze fragment, suspected to be a shard of an alchemical cauldron used by ancient cultivators. Back then, ancient cultivators set the cauldron above the Nanming Li Fire to concoct pills without fearing the demon fire's might in the least; it was surely a divine artifact. Although only a single fragment remains today, it still inherits the divine artifact's power and retains some resistance against the Nanming Li Fire, which may perhaps protect me. However, retrieving it will be no easy feat." Qin Sang looked in the direction Yunyouzi pointed. Ahead in the secret tunnel were stone chambers of various sizes. The others were all empty; only the innermost chamber housed the true core of the Nanming Li Fire. The flames manifested from the demon fire's power surged out of the stone chamber, packing the entire secret tunnel tightly without leaving the slightest gap. Further ahead, nothing could be seen—only a sheet of fiery red light. Under such circumstances, how was one supposed to pass through the Nanming Li Fire and retrieve the cauldron fragment? Qin Sang suspected that with his meager cultivation, if he were unfortunate enough to be touched by even a few embers, he would be easily burned to ashes.