Chapter 655: Who Else Can Step Forward to Fight?

The glow of the evening clouds on the horizon had long since faded, and the divine fire on the ground had been withdrawn, leaving only a scorched landscape of molten lava and flowing fire. The earth still radiated a red glow and waves of heat.

Gold Spirit Official had fallen, and his body and soul were annihilated.

Even the stars in the sky seemed to dim by a few degrees.

In the night sky, Flaming Sun True Lord's figure reappeared. This ancient god, dressed in red robes, looked somewhat weary, and his expression betrayed the toll of the recent battle. It was evident that he had been injured by Gold Spirit Official and was now feeling the strain of exhaustion.

Far below, a Daoist stood at the edge of the lava flow. Though surrounded by the darkened earth, he remained completely unharmed and unburdened, as calm as ever. He cupped his hands in salute.

“Many thanks for your assistance, Fire God.”

“Enough with that nonsense! That was exhilarating!” The ancient god turned into a streak of flame and flew over. Though injured, his voice and manner were filled with a rare and unrestrained spirit, which was something scarcely seen in the world anymore. “It's been so many years since I fought like that. So many years since anyone could give me such a fight. I almost forgot what it felt like. To experience it again today, ha! What a delight!”

“Did it remind you of the ancient days?”

“Hahaha! It's a pity. Of all those who once sparred with me, whether strong or weak, few still linger in this world today.” The Fire God threw his head back in laughter, then turned to glance behind him.

The pool of molten gold that was all that remained of Gold Spirit Official had already vanished, returned to its primordial origin. “That Gold Spirit Official... His reputation was well earned. There are many in the heavens older than him, more advanced in their cultivation, and some with even greater divine abilities, but none, I say, none so suited for battle, nor so eager for it. He was one of a kind.”

He paused slightly, then said, “With the incense and divine authority of the Heavenly Palace backing him, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter another opponent more formidable than him on your path forward. But the arts of divine magic and spellcraft are ever-changing, endlessly mysterious. With the right strategy, the weak can overcome the strong.

“But act recklessly or carelessly, and,

heh

, even the greatest powers of the ancient age have stumbled and fallen. Since you dare undertake such a great endeavor, I trust you’ve long prepared for this. You don’t need reminders from me. Still, my hopes of returning to the Divine Continent now rest with you, perhaps even my very survival. If you fail, I may yet be forced to flee further west.”

“Thank you, senior.”

“Go on, then.” The Fire God looked down on him from the air. “Just bring me home as soon as you can.”

“I will do all I can.” The Daoist saluted again, respectful and sincere.

“

Boom

...” A sudden explosion thundered overhead.

When the Daoist looked up again, the sky was already silent.

He naturally understood what Flaming Sun True Lord had meant.

In the realm of divine arts and spellcraft, everything had its counter. Just like in his early days after leaving the mountain, even three to five skilled martial artists or a squad of armored soldiers might not be able to defeat one of those massive Paper Yakshas as big as oxen. But a person who understood their mystical nature could burn it to ashes with a simple puff of mundane fire.

During the ancient times, clashes between gods, demons, and cultivators were common. Some great powers, using unique divine arts or treasured secret techniques, were nearly invincible across the world, yet they might still fear a particular individual. Sometimes, that person would even be someone of lesser cultivation or strength. This kind of mutual countering was especially frequent among the demon races.

Take Gold Spirit Official, for example.

The Heavenly Palace’s foremost Battle Warrior was not only a master of combat, but also a battle-hungry warrior. He carried the air of a general from ancient times, bold and fearless to the very end, only thinking of retreating at the final moment. His courage was unmistakable.

But the moment he saw Flaming Sun True Lord, he had instinctively shown wariness, not because Flaming Sun True Lord was an ancient mighty figure, and not because Gold Spirit Official thought himself weaker in combat, but because he knew that the divine flame nurtured by Flaming Sun True Lord happened to

counter

his golden body.

Had it been another ancient powerhouse, Gold Spirit Official would have charged forth without hesitation, full of fighting spirit and without fear.

Unfortunately, divine flame

did

restrain golden bodies.

And once the will to fight faltered, once doubt crept into the heart, the path forward was no longer clear.

What a pity...

there had also been a Daoist aiding from the sidelines.

Flaming Sun True Lord’s warning had been both timely and accurate, and his assistance was a tremendous favor. Not only had he gained nothing from Song You, he had exhausted his divine fire and suffered a heavy blow from Gold Spirit Official. Song You’s gratitude was naturally heartfelt and sincere.

***

Now, as he gazed upon the scorched earth of molten lava before him, spanning who knew how many li, firelight still reached for the stars, and waves of heat rose into the clouds. Though the divine flames had been extinguished, even the lingering embers and residual force were far beyond what the mortal world could withstand. Left unattended, it might take untold years for it to fully cool.

Fortunately, Song You had come prepared.

He reached into his robes and pulled out a tall crystal bottle. Rising with the wind, he found the current’s direction and uncorked the bottle, aiming it toward the scorched land ahead.

“Go...”

A desolate wind howled over the molten desert.

“

Swoosh

...”

The frigid air of Mount Tian poured down. At once, the earth fire was quenched.

A plume of white steam surged into the sky.

Only after quite some time did the Daoist finally recork the crystal bottle. Glancing left and right, he picked a direction, planted his staff in the ground, and began walking. Each step carried him a full li.

***

Beneath Mount Huayan, by the side of Drip Spring...

Faint, broken starlight shimmered on the surface of the water. Tiny ripples stirred in the spring, so soft they were nearly inaudible.

The Daoist Master, leaning on his staff, arrived here. In the starlight, he saw a long-haired calico cat swimming in the spring. It drifted back and forth, occasionally spinning in circles with its fur floating on the surface, and only its back and head poked above the water. At a glance, it looked like a fuzzy little creature wriggling through the water.

Upon spotting him, the cat swam over.

When it reached the shallows near the bank, it naturally stood up. The bottom was covered in small stones, and it padded steadily onto dry land. Once there was no more water beneath its feet, it suddenly gave its body a powerful shake.

“

Splash

...”

A ring of water scattered across the dry lakeshore, even splashing onto the Daoist’s shoes.

The cat turned its head to look at him, puzzled. Then, it hastily raised a paw and began swiping at his shoes, as if trying to dry them off. The more she wiped, the wetter they got, but she didn’t stop. Finally, she looked up and asked, “There was an earthquake over there. Was that you fighting?”

“It was the Fire God and Gold Spirit Official.”

“The Fire God and Gold Spirit Official!” The cat stared up at him, eyes shining brighter than the stars. “Did you go help the Fire God?”

“It was the Fire God who helped me.”

“The Fire God helped you! Then did you win?”

“Naturally.” Song You didn’t want to dwell on the topic, so he changed the subject, “Why did you run into the spring, Lady Calico?”

“I went in to swim and play in the water.”

“That’s drinking water for people, you know.”

“I’m very clean! All lakes and rivers have little animals that go in to swim!”

“Is that so...”

“Just not during the day. There are people around during the day. They say the spring was made by an immortal, and people aren’t allowed to go in,” the cat said. “But I’m not a person. And

we’re

the immortals.”

“Lady Calico, you’re getting more and more rational.”

“

Rational!”

“More and more coherent.”

“

Coherent!”

“People over there have started waking up already,” Song You told her. “It seems folks on this road like to get an early start before dawn. Let’s try to get a bit of rest ourselves, it’s time we set out too.”

“Where are we going?”

“Mount Tian, for now.”

“Then you sleep! I will keep watch! I even made your bed, it’s over there!”

“Then thank you kindly...”

“Just now the stars were

so beautiful

, did you see them?”

“I did...”

In the desert and rocky plains, the days were blazing hot, but the nights turned cool. One only needed to find a wind-sheltered spot to lie down and make do for the night.

Lady Calico, however, was a bit more refined. She laid out a felt mat so the scattered gravel wouldn’t dig into the skin. Once the Daoist lay down, she even covered him with a thin garment, pulling it over his head as well. He would sleep comfortably like this.

***

Up above, in the Rising Clouds Palace, the starry river glittered more brilliantly than ever. Immortal mist bathed in starlight, forming a divine radiance altogether different from the day.

The gods within the hall were not resting, however. They were waiting for the outcome. Truthfully, they already more or less knew. Within the Rising Clouds Palace stood a viewing platform, like a giant circular mirror, or perhaps a portal leading to the mortal realm. Once activated, it could display scenes from nearly anywhere within Shenzhou's bounds and most of the lands under Heaven’s jurisdiction.

But activating this divine mirror also meant opening a kind of passageway between the Heavenly Palace and the human world. If they were to spy upon a powerful being without cause, and if that being possessed unusual means, it was even possible for them to send divine powers

back

through the passage, striking at the Rising Clouds Palace in retaliation.

Most of the officials in the hall were civil gods, and naturally did not dare to take such a risk.

However, a god like the Gold Spirit Official, a principal figure among the Eight Divisions and the chief officer of the most critical War Division, was a mighty deity with a fearsome reputation in the Heavenly Palace. The death and destruction of such a being would inevitably stir a sense of foreboding among the other gods of Heaven. Even so, they continued to wait for confirmation.

At last, an elder god arrived on a cloud outside the palace. The grand gates of the palace opened wide, then suddenly slammed shut with a thunderous

boom

.

From within came a misty voice. “Great Emperor, the Gold Spirit Official has fallen in battle!”

“Ah? Are you certain of what you saw?”

“Clear as day. His divine soul was utterly destroyed.”

“Even with incense-powered divine authority bolstering him, the Gold Spirit Official still fell in defeat? The current generation of Hidden Dragon Temple is

that

skilled in combat arts?” the Celestial Emperor exclaimed. Then quickly added, “Did the current Hidden Dragon Temple heir exhaust his powers in the process?”

“His consumption was minimal, and he did not appear fatigued.”

Upon hearing this, the gods in the hall were all shocked.

“How can that be?”

“What divine arts or spells did the Hidden Dragon Temple heir use to defeat the Gold Spirit Official? Could it be clearly seen?”

“The Gold Spirit Official is Heaven’s Strongest Battle Warrior, strengthened by incense authority! Even in defeat, there’s no way the Hidden Dragon Temple heir could have done it so effortlessly! What truly happened?”

“...”

“Great Emperor and esteemed gods,” the elder god said, “The Hidden Dragon Temple heir did not face the Gold Spirit Official alone, he summoned the hidden Fire God of the Western Regions, the ancient Flaming Sun True Lord. According to what I saw, in the early phase of the battle, the Gold Spirit Official easily gained the upper hand. The Hidden Dragon Temple heir summoned a geomantic titan using sacred geomantic rites passed down from the Earth Sage, and even employed Boulder Transformation to empower it.

“Yet all of that was meaningless before the Gold Spirit Official. He was overwhelmed, until the Flaming Sun True Lord, hidden in the Western Region for years, appeared to assist him. With their combined strength, they managed to defeat the Gold Spirit Official. Under the spiritual blaze of the Flaming Sun True Lord, the Gold Spirit Officer’s soul was utterly annihilated.”

“The Flaming Sun True Lord?”

“He actually dared to...”

“So the Flaming Sun True Lord has emerged as well...”

“No wonder, then...”

“The Gold Spirit Official’s golden body is impervious, and nearly no divine art under heaven can break it. Only the Ninefold Celestial Fire of the Fiery Sun True Lord, or the Earthly Divine Fire of the Flaming Sun True Lord, are capable of countering it.”

The gods in the hall all began murmuring and discussing among themselves. But the Celestial Emperor was furious.

“The Hidden Dragon Temple heir could call upon aid. Don’t tell me, with all the Star Officials and Divine Generals, not one of you thought to assist the Gold Spirit Official from above?”

“Your Majesty may not be aware,” one god said, “that the Flaming Sun True Lord is the blood brother of the Fiery Sun True Lord, both ancient figures of immense power. Thousands of years ago, when the Fiery Sun True Lord ascended to the heavens and became a god, the Flaming Sun True Lord refused. As a result, the Heavenly Palace dispatched forces to hunt him down, and he was driven out of the Divine Continent. However, his divine powers are in no way inferior to those of the Fiery Sun True Lord.

“He has nurtured his Earthly Divine Fire for thousands of years, and the moment it was unleashed tonight, the very earth melted. Even the Gold Spirit Official’s golden body, bolstered by starlight, could not withstand it. At the time, many star officials and celestial generals were present, but they only dared to support from afar using the power of constellations. Had they descended to the mortal realm, they would’ve been incinerated by that divine fire mid-air before even touching the ground, their souls utterly destroyed.”

“So fearsome...” The Great Emperor Chijin, who had only ascended two hundred years ago, was part of the new generation of the Heavenly Palace. Skilled in court intrigue, he knew little about such ancient powers.

“The current heir of Hidden Dragon Temple has already grown this powerful, and now even has an ancient god aiding him. What should we do now?”

“Do not be alarmed, Your Majesty...”

The elder god who had just entered the hall spoke again, “The Gold Spirit Official was undeniably fierce. Even though he was countered by divine fire, he still inflicted serious injuries on the Flaming Sun True Lord, forcing him to expend every last trace of the divine fire he had nurtured for millennia before the battle could be won. In light of this, the Flaming Sun True Lord is no longer a threat. If we can defeat the Hidden Dragon heir, there will be ample time to settle accounts with him later.”

“Then where is the Flaming Sun True Lord now?”

“Naturally, he has returned to his cave-dwelling, secluded and nursing his wounds.”

“Truly?”

“I dare not deceive Your Majesty.”

“Ah...”

A wave of relief swept through the gathered gods.

The palace fell quiet for a moment before the Celestial Emperor’s voice sounded once again, “Nonetheless, the defeat of the Gold Spirit Official is no trivial matter, and it may well shake the morale of many divine forces above. In the opinion of you elder gods, what should be done next? Who

can

and

dares

to step forward and defeat the heir of Hidden Dragon Temple?”

“Your Majesty,” one elder god replied, “I have a candidate.”

“Who? Speak quickly!”

“We’ll use his own methods against him. Since the heir of Hidden Dragon Temple could call upon a Fire God, so can we!”