Chapter 121: Taking Advantage of the Fire, Battle Breaks Out

After finishing everything, Lian Mu and the other two didn’t linger but left immediately. Ji Mingyue considerately collected all the fragments of the White Tiger Mirror, leaving no chance for repair.

The three continued onward. There were no demonic beasts nearby—Clear Thought Sect’s Chief Team had already cleared them out before leaving—so their path was smooth and unimpeded.

When the Sixth Illusion ended, the blood moon disappeared, and the sky began to brighten.

As the first sun rose, the desert quickly heated up, and after walking just a bit, they were already uncomfortably hot.

Lian Mu contacted the other two Returning Immortal Sect teams. Bai Li Que and Xu Xianxing had found a new oasis and were resting there. Guan Huailin had run into a Crimson Sky Sect team, but since they were just a formation squad, they posed no threat to him.

After a whole night, Azure Profound Sect’s entire formation squad had been eliminated, and Crimson Sky Sect had lost half its members too.

Lian Mu had spent the night listening to elimination notices coming through the spirit jade token, laughing about it all night with Wen Yun and Ji Mingyue.

By dawn, the Clear Thought Sect people finally stopped fighting. For the moment, no more Azure Profound Sect disciples were being eliminated, and things quieted down on their side.

Wen Yun counted the total eliminations from last night and couldn’t help sighing, “A few casual words from you, and so many people are gone. Looks like Clear Thought Sect’s Chief Team really got pushed to the limit this time.”

“No wonder Tang Wuxun could break Clear Thought Sect’s old tradition and lead the team as an artifact refiner,” Ji Mingyue clicked her tongue. “He usually seems so docile, but once provoked, he’s more ruthless than anyone.”

“Judging by this, they must have decided to give up on their ranking this round,” Lian Mu said. “They can hide well at night, but not so much during the day. Azure Profound Sect’s Chief Talisman Cultivator is so sharp, he’ll see through them soon enough.”

“Tang Wuxun probably knows they can’t stay hidden during the day, but still chose to kill all night. If nothing goes wrong, we’ll hear news today that Clear Thought Sect’s Chief Team has been wiped out. Azure Profound Sect will definitely cause them trouble.”

Wen Yun said, “Azure Profound Sect has only their Chief Team left now, plus a secondary team in the second realm. They’re done for. Clear Thought Sect actually did the other two sects a huge favor.”

“We have to hurry,” Lian Mu said. “Before they react, we need to find the Fire Core Flower. If the three sects clear up their misunderstandings when they meet, Returning Immortal Sect will be surrounded on three sides.”

Lian Mu thought for a moment and continued, “Can we find the Fire Core Flower first and take it away?”

Just like last time.

Ji Mingyue said, “I’m afraid not. The two Fire Core Flowers in this illusion can’t be moved. Once rooted, they’ll die if transplanted.”

“Can they bloom sooner?” Lian Mu asked.

“That depends on where they’re growing. Even though they’re in different places, they share spiritual energy. When both mature, one will wither to let the other bloom,” Ji Mingyue explained. “We’re all in the first realm. If the one in the second realm blooms first, we’ll have to go in there to pick it.”

Lian Mu began to understand. In short, only one will survive, so disciples must keep moving between the two realms.

“In that case, can we interfere?” Lian Mu thought of an idea. “Where do you want it to bloom first?”

Wen Yun asked, “Why ask? Wishing won’t help… but if I had to choose, then the second realm. It’s harsher in there, but hot enough. The Fire Core Flower there must be almost mature, just waiting for the one in the first realm to catch up.”

Because the Fire Core Flower in the first realm grew too slowly, it dragged out the time disciples had to stay in the illusion.

Ji Mingyue said, “I just hope the one in the desert grows faster.”

“Let’s move on.” Lian Mu pressed her hand to her sword hilt. “We’re going to find the Fire Core Flower in the desert now.”

“The leaves aren’t even fully grown yet—finding it won’t help. We still have to wait. It can’t be moved, and staying put in the desert isn’t a good idea,” Wen Yun complained, feeling bored. By his calculation, they still had to stay inside for at least ten more days.

Lian Mu said, “Not necessarily. What I want is the seedling.”

Wen Yun and Ji Mingyue both paused, not quite understanding her intention, but since she had spoken, it wouldn’t hurt to look.

“When the Fourth Illusion arrives, the Fire Core Flower in the desert will start growing. Demonic beasts carrying traces of spiritual energy will appear then,” Ji Mingyue said. “Before that, we need a place to settle.”

Wen Yun said, “Why don’t we find Xu Xianxing and the others now? Azure Profound Sect is probably busy dealing with others and won’t bother with us for now.”

Their path had only yielded demonic beast materials, while Xu Xianxing and Bai Li Que’s route had led to an oasis. In the desert during the day, owning an oasis was like gaining another life.

“Good.”

Lian Mu agreed. She needed to store the demonic beast materials they’d gathered with Xu Xianxing—her own spatial pouch was out of space. She’d even had to stop collecting more midway because she couldn’t fit it all. The thought of all the demonic beast materials she’d missed made her heart ache.

…

Azure Dragon Mirror Domain, Huichi Dunes.

Crimson Sky Sect’s Chief Team sent talisman cultivators searching all night and finally located Azure Profound Sect’s Chief Team. Braving the risk of a demonic beast tide, they rushed over and arrived at dawn.

Lu Feishuang stood atop her sword, looking down coldly at the Azure Profound Sect’s Chief Team below.

The scene was chaotic. A Crimson Sky Sect team had been blocked—four or five had already been eliminated, and the remaining ones, tight-lipped, were kept by the Azure Profound Sect’s Chief Team for torture.

Gu Qingyu was about to punch a Crimson Sky Sect disciple when Lu Feishuang’s flying needle knocked his hand aside.

Gu Qingyu wasn’t easy prey either; as the silver needle brushed past, he caught it with one hand. “Young Master Lu, quite the temper, huh?”

Lu Feishuang stepped down from her sword, her face cold. “I never knew the Azure Profound Sect was full of two-faced hypocrites.”

“Who are you calling hypocrites?” Yuan Huai retorted. “Wasn’t it you who first attacked our people?”

Lu Feishuang knew what he meant about last night, but she frowned. “What does that have to do with us? I never ordered any Crimson Sky Sect disciple to attack the Azure Profound Sect.”

Ying You sheathed his sword and met her gaze calmly. “Then please explain truthfully, or don’t blame the Azure Profound Sect for being rude.”

Lu Feishuang: “?”

She was furious. “No one has ever dared throw dirt on me to my face. Since you don’t believe me, then let’s fight. Do you think the Crimson Sky Sect fears you now?”

The Azure Profound Sect’s Chief Team immediately grew vigilant. “If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

Overnight, their entire formation squad had been wiped out. Such destructive power could only belong to a Chief Team.

Clear Thought Sect’s Chief Team had always been timid—they had never dared to provoke the Azure Profound Sect openly.

Lu Feishuang snapped, “Enough nonsense. Draw your swords!”

Ying You stepped back two paces. “Wait, if it wasn’t you, then who attacked our people…”

Suddenly, a realization flashed in his mind, and he understood—they had been misled.

“Hold on.” Ying You reacted quickly and stopped Gu Qingyu, who was about to strike. “Actually, we came to see Young Master Lu for another reason…”

Lu Feishuang narrowed her eyes. “You think you can just stop like that? If you don’t give the Crimson Sky Sect a satisfying answer today, no one leaves here standing.”

“It concerns the Returning Immortal Sect…”

Only then did Lu Feishuang lower her sword slightly. “Keep talking.”

Ying You pondered for a long time before he slowly said, “…Azure Profound Sect agrees to cooperate with Crimson Sky Sect.”

Lu Feishuang hadn’t expected him to bring this up again and fell silent for a while.

Ying You said, “Earlier, it was our misunderstanding that led to harming people from Crimson Sky Sect. Now we just want to get to the bottom of this. If I’m not mistaken, this matter is certainly connected to Returning Immortal Sect.”

“When the time comes, we’ll help you deal with Returning Immortal Sect, but before that, Crimson Sky Sect must help Azure Profound Sect with one thing.”

Lu Feishuang knew perfectly well that he just wanted to use the remaining Crimson Sky Sect members to investigate this matter. After all, Azure Profound Sect’s formation team had been inexplicably wiped out—anyone would want to know who was behind it, especially the Azure Profound Sect disciples who valued their own people.

Lu Feishuang weighed it for a moment. Considering the long term, she slowly said, “It’s not impossible, but Crimson Sky Sect won’t help for nothing. Besides the condition you mentioned, add one more.”

“Please, Young Lord Lu, say it.”

“Share half of the spiritual plants and materials you gain in the next round with Crimson Sky Sect.” Lu Feishuang looked him straight in the eye, half-smiling. “If Captain Ying agrees, let’s draw up a contract to seal the deal.”