The Water-Fire Lotus

Both Tie Muzhan and the great Huan Beast were stunned. Tie Muzhan hastily activated his Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation while shouting, “Watch out for the water and fire he controls! The Xiantian Fiendgod who cultivates the Crimsonbright Diagram wields water and fire with terrifying power—enough to kill even ordinary Xiantian lifeforms when they act in concert!”

He had to shout because the Huan Beast had already transformed into its true form and started fleeing the moment it saw the water and fire, putting too much distance between them for mental communication. But how could the beast’s escape speed compare to that of water and fire?

“Rumble~~” A massive water dragon instantly coiled around the Huan Beast, its surface frosting over with ice. At the same time, a fire dragon wrapped around the creature’s body. The water dragon brought unending cold… the fire dragon brought unending heat.

Chapter 40: The Water-Fire Lotus

One cold, one hot.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

The Huan Beast’s fur began to tear, revealing red muscle beneath, which quickly charred.

“Roar~~” it howled in agony.

“Still not dead?” Ji Ning’s gaze turned cold.

The water dragon that had been coiled around the Huan Beast suddenly loosened, its form rapidly shifting into a massive lotus leaf of flowing water. Simultaneously, the fire dragon transformed into a lotus leaf of flame.

The water lotus leaf lay below.

The fire lotus leaf lay above.

The Huan Beast was trapped in the middle. No matter how it struggled or tried to escape, the two lotus leaves followed it.

“Water-Fire Lotus, refine!” Ji Ning willed it, and the two lotus leaves began to slowly rotate, grinding together like a pair of terrible millstones. Earlier, when Ji Ning had unconsciously triggered the power of heaven and earth to form a protective lotus, the sheer artistic conception of the Dao had made it formidable. Now, with the water and fire he commanded as a Xiantian lifeform as his foundation, and drawing upon a thread of that Dao’s artistic conception, the power skyrocketed a hundred or a thousand times over.

As the Water-Fire Lotus leaves turned, the Huan Beast in the center felt alternating waves of cold and heat, far worse than before. Its entire body went numb. Where water and fire intersected, wind was born—a gale of crushing force descended upon the beast.

“Crrack~~” The charred body of the Huan Beast shattered like porcelain, splitting into pieces. Its eyes still held confusion, then lost all life.

The great Huan Beast was dead.

“So powerful.” Ji Ning felt a surge of joy. “Using the water and fire I control as the foundation, and executing the defensive Water-Fire Lotus I comprehended earlier—it killed a Xiantian (mid) great demon in an instant, without it being able to fight back at all.”

This all happened in less than a breath.

“Rumble~~” The Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation, covering an area of one li, fully erupted. Streams of black and white qi surged toward Ji Ning.

Seeing the Huan Beast killed so easily, Tie Muzhan was startled. Then his face twisted in fury. “Inside my Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation, even if you’re a monstrous genius that hasn’t appeared in the Yan Mountains for a thousand years, you’ll die without a doubt! Die!”

Countless black and white streams, like giant pythons, lunged at Ji Ning.

“Hmph.” Ji Ning simply thought, and water and fire appeared around him, transforming into layers of lotus leaves. Two great circles of water and fire lotus leaves undulated slightly. As the black and white streams crashed in, he willed the lotus leaves to close!

Like a budding flower, the upward-curling leaves formed a bud several zhang tall, completely enclosing Ji Ning.

“Boom boom boom~~” The black and white streams lashed and pounded against it.

Though the Water-Fire Lotus had closed into a bud, it continued to rotate slowly. The inner fire lotus leaves and outer water lotus leaves turned in opposite directions. Despite the relentless assault, the black and white streams could barely breach the outer water layer before it reformed. Water and fire were not solid; they gathered and scattered at will. Even if damaged, Ji Ning could restore them with a thought.

“What?!” Tie Muzhan was shocked. “How is this possible? My Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation is a formidable formation. With my strength, I wouldn’t fear even a Xiantian (perfect) opponent. And now I can’t even break through this kid’s protective lotus? What the hell is that lotus? I’ve never even heard of it!”

How could Tie Muzhan know that Ji Ning had already reached the Unity of Man and Heaven realm? The greatest fruit of his night-long enlightenment—this protective lotus—already contained a trace of the True Meaning of the Dao.

A Xiantian lifeform born from the Crimsonbright Diagram was already immensely powerful. The water and fire it controlled far surpassed what an ordinary great demon could command. When combined with the ‘Water-Fire Lotus,’ which held the True Meaning of the Dao, blocking a mere formation was trivial.

“Tie Muzhan, you’ve chased me relentlessly. Now let me repay you properly—I’ll send you on your way!”

Inside the lotus bud, Ji Ning could vaguely see the distant figure through the flowing water and flame leaves. His heart and mind united with heaven and earth, allowing him to sense all nearby auras—including Tie Muzhan’s location.

“Die.” Ji Ning willed it.

A fire lotus leaf and a water lotus leaf materialized where Tie Muzhan stood, one above and one below, grinding him like a millstone.

“Formation, aid me!” Startled, Tie Muzhan immediately commanded the surrounding black and white streams to swirl frantically around him, resisting the crushing pressure of the Water-Fire Lotus. That barely worked—even when traces of water and fire slipped through, his Xiantian true essence protected him.

“How can he sustain two lotuses at once?” Tie Muzhan was terrified. “Such a powerful technique should demand tremendous mental focus.”

He had no idea that Ji Ning’s soul had rivaled a Zifu Disciple’s at age four, and now far surpassed one. Dividing his mind to maintain two Water-Fire Lotuses was effortless.

“Still alive?” Protected within his lotus bud, Ji Ning rapidly flew toward Tie Muzhan.

“Go!” Tie Muzhan’s face paled. He gritted his teeth.

Flee!

The decision was decisive. Coming from a major clan like Tiemu, he knew well that when the Crimsonbright Diagram reached Xiantian, its power was a thousand times greater than other Fiendgod Body Refining methods. Though Ji Ning was only Xiantian (early), he could match a Xiantian (late) Fiendgod Body Refiner!

He, Tie Muzhan, was merely a Xiantian (late) Ki Refiner. Fighting a Fiendgod of the same level in close combat? That was suicide!

He had relied on the formation, thinking Ji Ning lacked magic treasures. But now even the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation couldn’t harm his opponent. Engaging in direct combat would be death.

“A monster who just broke through to Xiantian and can already match a Xiantian (perfect) in combat! The Ji Clan has produced such a monster. I must report this to the ancestor—he must be eliminated early. Otherwise he’ll become a great disaster for my Tiemu Clan!” Tie Muzhan was thoroughly frightened, especially by that Water-Fire Lotus.

Formations required advance setup. Ji Ning’s Water-Fire Lotus could be cast at will, and was even more powerful than his formation. This was…

“He must be eliminated.” All Tie Muzhan could think was to return and report to his clan’s ancestor.

Whether the Tiemu Clan or the Ji Clan… the six overlords of the Yan Mountains all had Zifu Disciple Ancestors. Only then could they be acknowledged by the Grand Xia Dynasty and become its vassals.

“Agility Talisman!” Tie Muzhan flipped his hand, revealing a black, leaf-veined paper talisman with ancient script that pulsed with mysterious energy. He channeled his Xiantian true essence into it.

Swoosh!

The talisman transformed into a phantom character that merged into his body.

“Go!” Tie Muzhan turned into a streak of light, rapidly fleeing. He didn’t even retrieve the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation.

He knew he still needed the formation’s black and white streams to defend against the Water-Fire Lotus, and retrieving the eight formation flags would waste time. If that monstrous Ji Clan youth caught up, he wouldn’t just lose the flags—he’d lose his life.

“Flee?” Ji Ning immediately gave chase. His Xiantian Fiendgod body, combined with his Unity of Man and Heaven footwork, made him swift as flowing light.

“Only slightly slower than me?” Tie Muzhan was alarmed. “Before he broke through to Xiantian, I was faster. Now with a precious Agility Talisman, we’re barely even.” Grinding his teeth, he pulled out another talisman—a Lightness Talisman—and activated it.

Another phantom character merged into him.

“Whoosh!” Tie Muzhan became a wisp of smoke, escaping rapidly.

“Can’t catch him.” Ji Ning’s eyes showed regret. As a Fiendgod Body Refiner, his speed was already extreme. But Tie Muzhan had used two Dao talismans—one Agility, one Lightness. Though not as precious as the legendary Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman, they still boosted his speed dramatically.

Ji Ning had no talismans, and even if he did, he couldn’t use them—talismans and magic treasures required Ki Refining Xiantian energy.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Tie Muzhan shot out of the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation’s range, widening the gap. Ji Ning could no longer strike him with the Water-Fire Lotus, which relied on his controlled water and fire. Xiantian Fiendgods could only command elemental forces within a limited range.

“Hahaha…” Tie Muzhan breathed easier. Without the Water-Fire Lotus threat and with distance, he finally relaxed—then fury filled him. He hated Ji Ning for costing him the formation.

“Ji Clan brat, enjoy your triumph while you can. I’ll report to the ancestor. And to the Snowdragon Mountain! The Ji Clan is the mortal enemy of my Tiemu Clan and Snowdragon Mountain. Such a monster will be eliminated early, whether by Snowdragon Mountain or my clan.” Hatred burned in Tie Muzhan’s heart.

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~ Tomato diligently begs for collections and recommendation tickets ~

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