Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Mystery Rank One Star

This scene sent a sudden jolt through Lou Yun’s heart. It seemed Thunderstorm Fire had been feigning death earlier! Its goal was to completely destroy his magical weapon, kill him, and then escape from his body!

Lou Yun absolutely couldn’t let Thunderstorm Fire’s plan succeed. As the silver snakes crawled, he urgently began silently reciting the "Devour Weapons" mantra. Instantly, a burst of white light flared from the magical weapon, rapidly contracting as it started trying to devour Thunderstorm Fire.

Originally, when the magical weapon devoured common weapons, it would cause the internal spiritual energy to form a vortex, completely consuming the common weapon through high-speed rotational friction. However, the situation was entirely different when it had devoured Fusang Fire last time. Instead of Fusang Fire being worn down by the magical weapon’s spiritual energy, the spiritual energy had fused into it!

This time was different yet again. The heavenly fire storm was clearly like an unruly, defiant child. The countless silver snakes it released from within had already encountered the spiritual energy radiating from the magical weapon. After a brief pause for both sides, they launched their attacks almost simultaneously.

The silver snakes crackled with bolts of electricity. Wherever the lightning struck, the spiritual energy dissipated. Meanwhile, the spiritual energy frantically coalesced into clusters, attempting to envelop the silver snakes. Once wrapped, the silver snakes would struggle feebly before completely disappearing. This meant… the heavenly fire storm was being devoured by the magical weapon!

Like brave soldiers locked in fierce battle on a battlefield, the silver snakes and the spiritual energy refused to yield a single inch. Neither side relented, neither stopped resisting. Locked in a fierce back-and-forth struggle, they were surprisingly locked in a stalemate!

Both were depleting at an equally rapid pace. The heavenly fire storm and Lou Yun kept pouring more of their metaphorical soldiers into the fray, reinforcing their troops!

This was a war of attrition. Whichever side ran out of soldiers first would surely lose!

Lou Yun had initially thought that the heavenly fire storm, having rampaged inside him for so long earlier, must be nearly spent. Even if it had some energy left, it was just a final, feeble struggle and wouldn’t last long. Yet now, the situation suggested its energy reserves seemed practically limitless!

Lou Yun’s own spiritual energy reserves were vast, drawn in by the Fusang Tree itself. However, the Fusang Fire had already consumed some earlier while suppressing the heavenly fire storm. If this stalemate continued, the loser would likely be Lou Yun!

This thought sent a chill of sweat down Lou Yun’s spine. He had indeed underestimated the heavenly fire storm!

Eyes still closed, a second-grade spiritual crystal appeared in Lou Yun’s hand. He needed to replenish his spiritual energy—he had no choice. More ‘troops’ were essential to defeat the heavenly fire storm!

Finally, after six days and nights of fierce battle, Lou Yun, having consumed three second-grade spiritual crystals and two third-tier spiritual crystals, managed to vanquish the heavenly fire storm!

All the silver snakes released by Thunderstorm Fire had been engulfed and consumed by the spiritual energy. The tiny pearl-like core at the heart of the heavenly fire storm dimmed considerably. It itself began to continuously shrink, smaller and smaller, until it vanished without a trace within Lou Yun’s magical weapon!

Lou Yun had finally succeeded in devouring the heavenly fire storm. His magical weapon realm leaped from High-Level Five Stars directly to Mystery Rank One Star!

After devouring Fusang Fire previously, his Dream Emperor Sword had already undergone a change: a pattern of intertwined red and green veins appeared on its blade. Now, another transformation had occurred. Radiating outward from this central pattern were numerous intricate threads of silver and gold – the hallmark signature of Thunderstorm Fire!

In addition, something resembling the Weapon Core found in common weapons had formed inside the magical weapon, though this one was spherical. Lou Yun stared hard at it – wasn’t this exactly like the tiny pearl core that had been inside the heavenly fire storm?

With this core, Lou Yun’s magical weapon now possessed the ability to fly!

Just like after devouring Fusang Fire, Lou Yun closed his eyes, focusing intently to perceive the specific information about the heavenly fire storm.

Since the heavenly fire storm had now been devoured by Lou Yun, its arrogant and rebellious nature had presumably been thoroughly smoothed out by him. It submitted completely, willingly acknowledging Lou Yun as its master!

When Lou Yun opened his eyes, he found Chang Xiang seated directly before him, his expression clearly etched with anxiety as he waited.

"Brother Chang? Is something wrong?" Lou Yun was confused about why Chang Xiang was waiting for him.

Chang Xiang snapped impatiently, "Cut the act! Tell me quickly, what’s the true origin of the heavenly fire storm?"

Ever since Lou Yun told him about the origin of Fusang Fire last time, Chang Xiang had realized his own understanding of the Eighteen Known Heavenly Fires was sorely lacking. Now that Lou Yun possessed the full understanding of Thunderstorm Fire, Chang Xiang was determined to satisfy his curiosity by getting every detail.

Lou Yun chuckled. "Well, Brother Chang, your understanding of Thunderstorm Fire’s origin is mostly correct. It did ignite from the very first lightning bolt conjured between Heaven and Earth. However, it started as a mere flicker of ember. Over countless ages, it absorbed more and ever more lightning energy from endless subsequent bolts, eventually evolving into the full-fledged flame!"

He continued, "Its temperature truly isn’t the highest among the Eighteen Fires. But its raw, destructive lightning power grants it its defining characteristic – pure attack. That’s exactly why it ranks ninth!"

Lou Yun paused, reflecting briefly. "Brother Chang, I’ve been thinking… each of the known Eighteen Heavenly Fires must possess one unique inherent property. A property none of the other seventeen possess. Like Fusang Fire’s property being healing, and the heavenly fire storm’s property being attack."

Chang Xiang pondered this for a moment. "Your idea holds some merit. The challenge is… without actually devouring a heavenly fire, one can’t truly know what unique property it possesses."

"Exactly! Right now, I’m incredibly curious about the properties possessed by the Five-pointed Golden Fire and Hellfire residing within Xiao Huo’s body."

A look of keen anticipation flashed across Chang Xiang’s face. "That one’s simple enough. You’ll find out… once your cultivation advances by two major levels!"

"Two major levels?!"

Lou Yun shrugged his shoulders. He remained silent. To him, achieving that level – where his magical weapon realm would reach the Earth level – felt like a very distant future.

Chang Xiang pressed on. "Speaking of that… is that really all the information about the heavenly fire storm? Nothing else?"

Lou Yun scratched his head. "Beyond that, you already know – if I throw it out, the lightning energy contained within it causes explosions capable of inflicting significant damage on the enemy!"

"Hmm," Chang Xiang nodded, but then immediately shook his head thoughtfully. "I suspect the heavenly fire storm likely harbors aspects you haven’t yet discovered. Don’t forget about the Fusang Tree inside you. You had no idea what it signified initially, only later realizing it was Fusang Fire evolving. And it wasn’t until you broke the water contract for the Shui family members that the true Heavenly Fire Fusang appeared for the first time!"

Lou Yun had to admit Chang Xiang made a valid point. Still, he wasn’t worried. Since the heavenly fire storm now belonged to him, there would surely be opportunities to learn all its secrets in time.

With the heavenly fire storm successfully devoured, Lou Yun could finally end his secluded cultivation. As he opened his door, he saw Tie Sha standing there. Though Tie Sha’s eyes were closed, his other senses were extraordinarily acute. Knowing it was Lou Yun, he let out a cold grunt from his nostrils, turned stiffly on his heel, and marched away without a word.

Lou Yun watched Tie Sha’s broad retreating figure, a genuine smile touching his lips. Though the man spoke little, such a friend was worth exchanging one’s life for!

Lou Yun emerged from the cabin onto the deck. He found another beautiful day greeting them – the sky was cloudless for thousands of miles, lazy sunlight spilling warmly onto the ship. Nearly everyone was gathered on deck, some chatting, others simply relaxing, clearly soaking in the excellent weather.

Spotting Lou Yun, Shui Lingluo rushed over first, her voice brimming with concern. "Young Master Lou! You’ve finally emerged from seclusion! Is the heat gone? How do you feel now?"

Lou Yun smiled warmly at her. "Miss Shui, thank you for your concern. I am completely fine now. I truly owe you a debt of life." He meant this sincerely. Though immobilized and unable to speak during his ordeal, he had clearly sensed Shui Lingluo continuously using her water control ability to cool down his burning body. She undoubtedly saved his life.

Shui Lingluo, however, mistook his words as mere flattery. Blushing slightly, she responded, "You tease me, Young Master Lou! Where could I possibly possess such grand powers? There’s no need to speak of owing anyone a life!"

Lou Yun smiled lightly, choosing not to explain further in detail. Some things, he understood deep down, and that was enough.

By then, others had noticed him and gathered around, expressing their earnest concern over his condition. Lou Yun naturally thanked each one of them.

Finally managing to thank everyone and see them disperse, Cai San Gong approached. He gave Lou Yun a conspiratorial wink. "Young Brother Lou! This time, I’ve actually gained quite a bit of prestige thanks to you!"

Lou Yun was utterly bewildered by this remark. "Third Master Cai? What are you talking about?"

"Haha!" Cai San Gong laughed heartily. "Young Brother, you haven’t heard the latest! Everyone aboard the Tongyuan Commercial Association ship, top to bottom, views your group of four as their rescuers, their saviors! Especially you and that Miss Shui! You single-handedly eradicated the Storm Sea region, while Miss Shui proved capable of controlling water! Through their retellings, you’ve practically ascended to the status of lofty gods in the minds of the crew! And since I brought you aboard this vessel… naturally I bask in the glow of your prestige!"

Lou Yun understood being seen as saviors and Shui Lingluo’s water control ability being marveled at. However, the part about him "destroying the Storm Sea" completely baffled him. Cai San Gong quickly explained, aware Lou Yun had been unconscious at the time it happened. He related the events once Lou Yun had been brought aboard.

Hearing him out, Lou Yun understood immediately. The entire existence of the Storm Sea region must have been intrinsically linked to the heavenly fire storm. With him now having subjugated the storm, that turbulent area naturally had disintegrated and vanished.

He saw no point in explaining further. Such matters only became more convoluted the more one tried to clarify. He simply smiled faintly, about to change the subject, when he suddenly spotted Zhao Zhanpeng walking swiftly towards them. The captain’s expression was heavy, clear signs of worry etched on his face.

Lou Yun quickly stepped forward to meet him. "Captain Zhao? What’s the matter? Has something happened?"

Zhao Zhanpeng wasted no time. "We just received a report from the fifth Auxiliary Ship. They report a fleet of vessels trailing behind them. The pursuing ships are flying no identifiers. We don’t know who they are or their affiliation. It could be a coincidence – vessels merely heading in the same direction. Or," his voice lowered grimly, "it could mean they are deliberately following us!"

Zhao Zhanpeng’s words were punctuated by a deafening BOOM! Everyone on the deck instinctively spun towards the source. Far in the distance, over the fifth Auxiliary Ship, a thick plume of black smoke billowed violently into the clear sky.