Meiqiu returned to his original form, perching intently on Nie Shiyun’s shoulder to direct them.
As they descended onto a deserted island, Nie Shiyun felt a slight sense of trepidation. There were only a few people whose scents Meiqiu could remember; surely they hadn't traveled ten thousand miles only to run straight into that certain Duan fellow whom Zhai Bairong had no wish to see?
The island was covered in lush vegetation, with dense foliage blotting out the sky. It was indeed a place that was easy to defend but hard to attack; it was no wonder the group in the original novel had managed to hide in this area for so long. Without Meiqiu’s guidance, the two of them would surely have been wandering in circles.
These deserted islands were located in the southeast sea and were naturally sweltering. Even with the canopy of leaves overhead, the penetrating rays of the fierce sun were enough to make one dizzy. Now, likely due to the influence of the exotic fire, the temperature was even more abnormal. The heat seemed locked to the ground, roasting one’s very soul.
Both Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong possessed high cultivation bases, so they could regulate their bodies against these external factors. This only served to confirm that this was indeed the island harboring the exotic fire, and they couldn't help but praise Meiqiu. For once, Meiqiu didn't let the praise go to his head; he remained focused, tracking the scent.
"Over there!" Meiqiu suddenly cried out.
Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong exchanged a look and turned toward the direction Meiqiu was pointing his head. They saw a stone cave, its entrance concealed by vegetation. As they drew closer, the two of them also caught the scent of blood. They had to admire Meiqiu’s sense of smell; to be able to catch a scent from the air above the island that couldn't even be smelled ten meters away was quite a talent.
The two pushed aside the vines at the cave entrance. Just as they were about to enter and investigate, they felt a cold but decisively murderous attack flying toward their faces. However, with Nie Shiyun’s Nascent Soul cultivation, such an attack posed no threat. He raised a hand and neutralized it with ease.
"A yin soul..." Nie Shiyun reacted in an instant, and at the same time, the cultivator inside the cave ceased his attack.
"...It’s you." Shen Yan had been forcing himself to prepare for a final struggle, but seeing Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and slumped back onto the ground. He had struggled to find this hiding spot and was currently circulating his energy to repair his severe injuries. Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong’s accidental intrusion had made him think his pursuers had arrived, forcing him to interrupt his healing. The result was that he spat out another mouthful of blood.
He had previously realized that Xu Yehua and Rong Lü had no intention of leaving him alive. He had exerted every ounce of strength to summon the spirit fox’s soul while simultaneously throwing out a compressed illusion array. This kind of array was inscribed on array flags and could be used for emergencies, but it was ultimately not as powerful as one pre-inscribed on a weapon or the ground. He had barely managed to flee the scene while the array was being forcibly broken.
Shen Yan had not fled the deserted island immediately only because there were still cultivators from Soul Summoning Valley hunting him outside. He figured those three would surely prioritize dealing with the exotic fire and might even fall into a dispute over its distribution. Rather than fleeing in a panic, it was better to find a place to rest and recover.
"What happened here?"
Shen Yan withdrew his yin soul and let out a long breath. Although he didn't like showing his pathetic side to outsiders, the situation was critical. He couldn't afford to be stubbornly proud and sought Nie Shiyun’s help. "I found the exotic fire first, but we were at a stalemate for a long time. Then Duan Mingyu and his paramours arrived and snatched the fire away, even trying to kill me to silence me. I used a few small tricks to escape to this place."
Shen Yan had suffered internal injuries and was somewhat breathless as he spoke, providing a brief summary. Hearing his trembling voice, Nie Shiyun quickly raised a hand to signal that he understood, telling Shen Yan to save his strength.
To put it simply, Duan Mingyu was late, but he had arrived.
"It seems they’ve already found the exotic fire. What do you think?" Nie Shiyun asked for Zhai Bairong’s opinion.
"At the very least, it’s not certain they’ve secured it yet. Let’s go." Zhai Bairong’s tone was firm. Nie Shiyun couldn't help but be surprised; it seemed Zhai Bairong was truly determined to get it this time. Since it was a rare occasion where the other wanted something, Nie Shiyun was naturally willing to take the gamble.
Even now, Nie Shiyun hadn't realized that Zhai Bairong’s unusual attitude was actually for his sake.
"Will you be alright?" Nie Shiyun glanced at Shen Yan. Although they only had the bond of a single transaction and the other’s attitude had always been cold, they were somewhat fated. He didn't wish to see the man die here.
"It’s fine. The people from Soul Summoning Valley haven't found their way onto the island yet, and I’ve received Senior Zhai’s medicinal pills. I won't be in any great danger." Shen Yan accepted the high-grade pills Zhai Bairong gave him, not wanting to continue owing favors. He straightforwardly told Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong the direction of the exotic fire. After this ordeal, he had completely made enemies of those three, and Shen Yan was a man who believed in settling scores. Since he couldn't take the exotic fire himself, it wouldn't be bad to let others go and cause trouble for Duan Mingyu’s group.
Ultimately, his cultivation was still a level below theirs. Shen Yan’s gaze swept over the standing Nie Shiyun and saw a pitch-black crow perched on his shoulder. Though it looked like a crow, the bird’s tail feathers were quite long, trailing down Nie Shiyun’s arm all the way to his thigh.
Seeing Shen Yan look over, the bird gave a shake, appearing somewhat nervous, and decisively turned its head away. Shen Yan had never seen Nie Shiyun summon this spirit pet before and couldn't help but look at it a few more times. He felt the bird was somewhat flashy and lacked substance—not the kind of demonic beast Nie Shiyun would typically keep.
However, whatever bird the senior chose to raise was none of his business. Shen Yan quickly withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and began to meditate in peace. The pills Zhai Bairong had given him were rare treasures.
Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong hurried out of the cave, heading in the direction Shen Yan had indicated.
Although the deserted island was not small, with a clear direction, the journey didn't take long. Subduing the Vermilion Bird Exotic Fire was no easy task. If the three of them had worked together with one heart, there might have been a high chance they would have successfully secured it by now. But at this moment, Rong Lü and Xu Yehua were in a dispute, the cause naturally being the ownership of the exotic fire.
"I have a fire spiritual root; having this exotic fire would be adding flowers to a brocade. When the time comes, those Moon-Reflecting Sect cultivators chasing you will be a piece of cake to me. Perhaps even if your sect elders come, I’ll have some confidence in facing them." Xu Yehua looked at this treasure, which even the elders of Red Rock Cliff did not possess. A surge of wild joy filled his heart; he already viewed the item as a part of himself.
Duan Mingyu did not have the remnant soul of the Azure Lotus Exotic Fire, and his cold constitution was already in a precarious state. While the Vermilion Bird Exotic Fire was a bonus for Xu Yehua, it was a life-saving necessity for Duan Mingyu. For once, Duan Mingyu did not let his kindness overflow and foolishly give the item to his lover; he told Xu Yehua that he truly needed the Vermilion Bird Exotic Fire.
In his eyes, the most inconceivable thing was that this concerned his very health—how could Xu Yehua not give the item to him?
Although the exotic fire was cunning, it couldn't withstand the three of them using various methods to trap it. Shen Yan had also exhausted some of its spirit earlier. Now, while Duan Mingyu and the others were arguing incessantly, the exotic fire found itself unable to escape. It was even more violent than before, lashing out with flames at the empty air.
When Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong arrived, they were met with an internal conflict they had never expected.
Nie Shiyun had originally intended to let things take their course, but the moment he saw Xu Yehua, his mindset changed.
He knew Xu Yehua wouldn't stay quietly in his sect as Zhai Bairong had heard. How could Xu Yehua not have a hand in such an important occasion?
"Senior Brother! Have you come to help me?" Duan Mingyu cried out in pleasant surprise. He assumed Zhai Bairong still couldn't let go of him, his junior brother, and had hurried here specifically to save him after hearing that the Moon-Reflecting Sect was moving against him.
"How could that be!" Rong Lü quickly pulled Duan Mingyu back, his gaze full of wariness. "He is Qu Zhanmeng’s eldest disciple; he cannot be uninvolved in this! It seems Yunqing Pavilion is also implicated..."
Zhai Bairong was speechless, feeling that one of these two was too naive while the other thought too much.
Nie Shiyun said amusedly, "I’ll be blunt: we’re here for the exotic fire. Whatever the Moon-Reflecting Sect wants to do has nothing to do with us. Your senior brother is usually quite indifferent to material desires, but he wants this one. Aren't you his good junior brother? Hurry up and give it to him!"
Duan Mingyu usually liked to play the emotional card when asking for things, but Nie Shiyun had actually struck first this time, proving to be even thicker-skinned than Duan Mingyu.
Zhai Bairong was stunned. Although he knew it wasn't the time, he couldn't help but correct him, "No, this is for you..."
"But this item is very important to me!" Duan Mingyu froze for a moment, then couldn't help but cry out in grievance, interrupting Zhai Bairong’s low-voiced explanation. Duan Mingyu had never had anyone demand something from him before, yet today it had happened one after another. He couldn't wrap his head around it for a moment.
Nie Shiyun was merely engaging in a war of words; he didn't truly expect the other to hand the item over. While Duan Mingyu was conflicted, the other four had already clashed.
"Senior Brother! But... but we got here first!" Duan Mingyu glanced at the Vermilion Bird Exotic Fire, finally crying out in unwilling protest.
Meiqiu, who had been acting as a decorative bird until now, finally couldn't help but curse, "Stop farting! Didn't you just snatch it from someone else anyway!"
As he spoke, Meiqiu flew off Nie Shiyun’s shoulder. Although he had always found Shen Yan annoying, seeing the man covered in blood earlier made him feel that Shen Yan had only mocked his childhood name—it wasn't a crime deserving of this. Duan Mingyu’s group was truly going too far!
Unknowingly, he had grown quite a bit since hatching. As he spread his wings now, a black shadow swept across with
