Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Nemesis

Inside the Chaos Golden Cauldron, just as Lou Yun had surmised, Xiao Huo had also been training continuously. Due to certain unique characteristics of the Chaos Golden Cauldron, this place was the perfect cultivation ground for Xiao Huo. Consequently, its cultivation base grew rapidly, and naturally, the spiritual sentience it possessed continued to increase.

Although Xiao Huo had earlier nodded in response to Lou Yun’s stern warning, promising it wouldn’t target the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire, that was merely its newly gained sentience deceiving Lou Yun. In truth, after going so long without enjoying a delicious feast, how could it possibly bring itself to pass up such a delectable meal in front of it!

When Tang Qianqiu and his four companions charged forward earlier, Xiao Huo had wanted to rush ahead too, worried they might subdue the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. But it also considered that Tang Qianqiu’s group had five members; even if Xiao Huo charged in, it mightn’t succeed in devouring the Heavenly Fire. In fact, it might instead be attacked by the five of them. So, it held back for the moment.

Now, seeing them defeated by the flames released by the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire, it truly couldn’t suppress its hunger any longer. Taking advantage of Lou Yun’s burst of laughter, it recklessly darted out.

Lou Yun knew it was Xiao Huo rushing out. Alarmed, he hurriedly tried to chase after it and pull it back. However, Chang Xiang’s voice stopped him: "Just let Xiao Huo go!"

"Why?"

"In your current physical state, even if you go, at best, you’ll only subdue the Illusory Wolf, not devour it. And you’d be taking a risk. Don’t be fooled just because this Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire took the form of a wolf – it’s inherited some of a wolf’s traits. There’s a real chance you might fail to subdue it."

"And even if you succeed in subduing it, what then? You already have two Heavenly Fires inside your body, and you still haven’t fully mastered controlling them. There’s a saying: ‘Greed bites off more than it can chew.’ I believe you understand. So, why not let Xiao Huo go and devour it? Xiao Huo consuming a Heavenly Fire won’t digest it; it’ll actually gain the ability to use it. Later, when the time is right, you can always figure out a way to retrieve it from Xiao Huo."

Upon reflection, Lou Yun realized Chang Xiang was right. The reason he had earlier warned Xiao Huo not to go was because he’d mistakenly thought the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire was a demon beast. But now, knowing it was actually a Heavenly Fire, whether Xiao Huo consumed it or he subdued it himself didn’t make much difference.

"But won’t Xiao Huo be in danger?" Lou Yun asked with concern.

"Definitely not. Fire Spirit Mice feed on Heavenly Fires; why on earth would it fear one? Besides, Xiao Huo is cunning. If there was truly danger, it wouldn’t have charged out. Rest assured!"

Only then did Lou Yun feel reassured and quickly focused his attention on Xiao Huo.

During the exchange between the two, Xiao Huo had already rushed up to the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Strangely, the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire remained rooted to the spot, utterly motionless. Its eyes, originally blazing with rage and hatred, visibly transformed into profound terror upon seeing Xiao Huo!

Seeing this shift in expression, Lou Yun was thunderstruck: "It really is a case of one thing conquering another! The Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire is clearly terrified of Xiao Huo. It doesn’t even dare to move as Xiao Huo charges! It’s already resigned to being devoured!"

However, Chang Xiang voiced skepticism: "That doesn’t seem right. While it’s true one thing conquers another, this Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire possesses the nature of a wolf and considerable sentience. Even if it recognized its nemesis, it shouldn’t just passively surrender and willingly become food!"

"But look, it’s absolutely motionless, staying put without the slightest attempt to escape!"

Chang Xiang remained unconvinced: "No, there must be something wrong. Remember what Xia Guanqiu told you earlier? Back when the Disaster Dou Beast appeared here, it was unruly and ferocious. Now, after being trapped for thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, and suddenly breaking free – how could it possibly just stand quietly here waiting to be eaten!"

Hearing Chang Xiang’s reasoning made Lou Yun sense something was amiss too. He had personally subdued the heavenly fire storm before. That time had involved a deadly game of cat and mouse; he nearly died before succeeding. This proved Heavenly Fires possessed sentience; they wouldn’t simply resign themselves to becoming food.

By now, Xiao Huo had flown right up to the face of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Its jaws opened wide, poised to bite. Yet the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire offered not the slightest resistance. It merely lowered its head, its eyes peering obliquely upward, fixed intently on Xiao Huo. Within those eyes was unmistakable despair.

Surprisingly, Xiao Huo seemed frozen as well. Its open jaws hovered, not biting down. It stayed suspended in mid-air, utterly still in that posture.

Everyone at the Ancient Weapon Academy, from Xia Guanqiu down to the teachers, recognized Xiao Huo. Lou Yun had brought it with him when he enrolled. Thus, they were puzzled when Xiao Huo charged towards the "Disaster Dou Beast" while Lou Yun remained inactive. They wondered, Is Lou Yun sending Xiao Huo to test the ‘Disaster Dou Beast’?

Now, seeing Xiao Huo rigid and motionless while the "Disaster Dou Beast" openly showed fear, they were even more perplexed. What was Xiao Huo doing? Why didn’t it seize the moment and bite down? Was it waiting for the beast to resist?

Lou Yun himself was completely baffled, but his confusion ran far deeper than the others. He knew Xiao Huo best – the little creature would willingly risk its life for good food. Yet here was a delicious meal, delivered unquestioningly, and Xiao Huo couldn’t bring itself to bite! Why?

The stalemate between Xiao Huo and the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire lasted several moments. Finally, Xiao Huo moved. It closed its mouth, turned its head towards Lou Yun, and its previously excited expression vanished. Replacing it was a pitifully miserable look, accompanied by a desperate, pleading cry.

Lou Yun knew – Xiao Huo was asking him for help!

Without further hesitation, Lou Yun gave a nod towards Xia Guanqiu. He urged the Dream Emperor Sword beneath his feet to propel him downward like a gust of wind, landing directly beside the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire and Xiao Huo. As Lou Yun approached, a savage ferocity ignited within the despair-filled eyes of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Clearly, towards any creature except Xiao Huo, its hatred burned fiercely!

But with its nemesis Xiao Huo right there suppressing it, it didn’t dare make any hostile move against Lou Yun. It had seen Xiao Huo leap onto Lou Yun’s shoulder and was now earnestly rubbing its head against Lou Yun’s cheek as if to curry favor.

Lou Yun suddenly darting out had initially worried Xia Guanqiu; he’d tried to stop him but was too late. Now, witnessing Lou Yun stand so terrifyingly close to the "Disaster Dou Beast," everyone present silently sweated bullets, terrified the beast might turn and devour Lou Yun!

At such close quarters, Lou Yun’s curiosity overcame him. He carefully examined this Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. The more he looked, the more astonishing he found it. If not for Chang Xiang’s absolute certainty, he would never have believed this creature before him – with its long fur, glistening sharp teeth, exactly like a common wolf – was actually a mass of Heavenly Fire! This Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire was bizarre to the extreme, choosing to manifest as a wolf to exist in the world.

After a moment of incredulous pondering, Lou Yun’s gaze naturally drifted downward. And there, he spotted something unsettling.

Directly beneath the body of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire, precisely where the shallow pool in the Ancient Weapon Academy had been, now deep underground, pulsed a faint, barely discernible red light.

His eyes alternately shifted between the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire above and the crimson glow beneath. Suddenly, a realization struck Lou Yun: the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire hadn’t truly freed itself from the ancient expert’s seal at all! This explained why, despite awakening and bursting violently skyward, it was utterly immobilized now, unable to so much as retreat, let alone flee from Xiao Huo.

The cause was that crimson glow beneath it – located precisely at the spot of its original imprisonment and sealing!

It was the existence of this glowing prison that prevented Xiao Huo from devouring the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire!

Comprehending this, Lou Yun patted Xiao Huo. "Keep watch over it," he instructed. "I’m going down to investigate!"

Lou Yun feared that accidentally interfering with whatever remained of the seal below could result in the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire immediately escaping. He needed Xiao Huo to stand guard.

Xiao Huo understood Lou Yun was now aiding its cause. It emitted an excited cry and leaped forward, positioning itself right before the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire again. Its jaws snapped open and shut repeatedly, the menacing motion doubtless terrifying the trapped entity immensely.

Lou Yun urged the Dream Emperor Sword downward, driving deep into the shattered earth. As he descended further, the red glow ahead grew increasingly distinct.

Finally, he reached the source of the ruby light. He couldn’t resist looking upward.

What he saw made him gasp. His current position was easily five or six hundred meters beneath the suspended Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. That meant the beast had been sealed hundreds of meters deep within the earth. No wonder the crimson glow had seemed faint and elusive from the surface – the distance was staggering. This revelation also underscored the incredible amount of effort the ancient master who sealed it here must have expended.

Steadying his nerves, Lou Yun finally focused on the pulsing red light before him, which saturated the deep darkness around it with an unsettling, bloody hue.

Honestly, the glow itself wasn’t overwhelmingly bright. However, within the profound blackness of such great depths, its radiance felt concentrated, intense.

Lou Yun stared intently at the source of this crimson luminescence. For a long moment. Then a question escaped, almost unbidden: "W-what is this thing?"