Volume 3 Chapter 32

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Volume 3 Chapter 32: The Next Night (Part 5) – Serpent Python

"Senior Brother Xu, how are you able to perform the Phoenix Spirit Fire?" Feng Qingtian suddenly looked up, staring intently into Xu Qingfan’s eyes and asked slowly.

Since discovering that Xu Qingfan could also use the Phoenix Spirit Fire, the question had been on Feng Qingtian’s mind. Earlier, he even found traces of Phoenix Spirit Fire energy on the corpses of disciples from "Xuantian Gate" and "Yellow Spirit Mountain," which deeply shocked him.

Noticing the seriousness in Feng Qingtian’s eyes, laced with a hint of hidden hostility, Xu Qingfan paused slightly but quickly understood Feng Qingtian’s thoughts.

To Feng Qingtian, the "Phoenix Spirit Fire" should have been an exclusive divine skill of the Feng family descendants, something he was particularly proud of, unwilling to allow others to touch. Now, having repeatedly found others who could perform this unique skill of the Feng family, despite knowing Xu Qingfan was his fellow disciple brother, a slight sense of hostility naturally arose within him.

Understanding Feng Qingtian’s thoughts brought Xu Qingfan a slight discomfort, yet he relaxed, knowing that with Feng Qingtian’s pride, he would not act hostilely towards him over this matter.

Thinking of this, Xu Qingfan gave a gentle smile, pulled out the Wutong branch, which had transformed into an ordinary-looking twig, from his hair, and handed it to Feng Qingtian. He said with a smile, "I cannot naturally unleash the Phoenix Spirit Fire; I could do so before only with the help of this Wutong branch."

Hearing Xu Qingfan and Feng Qingtian’s conversation, the other three members of Jiuhua Gate were astounded. Previously, during the battle at Liuhe Gate’s "Dark Rain Barrier" with Deng Tianao and Chou Xuan, they had also witnessed the magnificent Flame Phoenix. They thought it was Feng Qingtian’s doing, never considering it was actually Xu Qingfan.

In their previous impression of Xu Qingfan, he was a person who could utilize various rare flowers and plants, making him quite troublesome. But they believed their own strength to be enough to defeat him in a fight.

However, after learning that Xu Qingfan sprinkled "Giant Spirit Flower" pollen on Deng Tianao, they realized Xu Qingfan hadn’t shown his full capabilities during the previous internal competition. Or perhaps, during his three years away, Xu Qingfan gathered seeds of many powerful rare flowers and plants, greatly enhancing his strength. Now, if they were to compete with him, the outcome would be uncertain.

Now, they were even more shocked to learn that besides wielding potent rare flowers, Xu Qingfan could also use fire techniques, meaning he had achieved a wood-fire dual cultivation. This was a technique usually only seen among masters in the Condensed Core Stage. How had Xu Qingfan gained such incredible abilities?

Although the reason was unknown, their gaze towards Xu Qingfan changed significantly. If their previous attitude was due to Xu Qingfan’s excellent leadership, now they looked at him with respect befitting a strong figure.

Especially Jin Qinghan, whose gaze at Xu Qingfan was quite complex. He had known Xu Qingfan for decades, always being much stronger than him. But now he realized Xu Qingfan’s strength had caught up without him noticing. The brother he once felt needed his protection now stood as his equal in battle. His heart was filled with both comfort and an unexpected sense of loss.

Feng Qingtian was, of course, aware of the Wutong branch’s value, as his own magical tool, the "Phoenix Feather Staff," was made from a Wutong branch and other materials. Hearing Xu Qingfan say he could use the Phoenix Spirit Fire with the help of the Wutong branch made him realize how special and precious it was.

But now, seeing Xu Qingfan trustingly hand the Wutong branch to him without hesitation, Feng Qingtian felt ashamed of the slight hostility he had harbored. Proud by nature, he said nothing more, quietly accepting the branch and closing his eyes to examine it carefully.

As soon as Feng Qingtian held the Wutong branch, he felt the powerful Phoenix Spirit Qi within the rich Wood-type Spirit Qi. He was astonished because its purity was almost as strong as his own Phoenix bloodline. Despite his long probing, he couldn’t understand how both Wood and Fire Spirit Qi coexisted on the branch. Opening his eyes, he asked, "Senior Brother Xu, what is the mystery of this Wutong branch that allows both Wood and Fire Spirit Qi to coexist?"

Speaking thus, Feng Qingtian handed the Wutong branch back to Xu Qingfan, though a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes. If the branch were his, not only would his Phoenix Spirit Fire be more powerful, but the time to reach the Condensed Core Stage would be more than halved.

Even though Feng Qingtian was reluctant, he returned the Wutong branch to Xu Qingfan without hesitation, confident that he could progress just as quickly without it.

Hearing Feng Qingtian’s question, Xu Qingfan didn’t answer directly but softly chanted, "The phoenix comes with grace, arriving from the East Sea, resting only on a Wutong tree."

"Senior Brother Xu, are you saying…?"

"Once, a phoenix underwent nirvana on this very Wutong tree, leaving behind its powerful Phoenix Spirit Qi. I obtained this branch thereafter. Coincidentally, during my travels, I unknowingly acquired the ancient ‘Spirit Purging Cult’ technique, ‘Hua Ling Secret’. So, I refined it into my ‘Spirit Control Object’. This is why I can use the Wutong branch to wield Phoenix Spirit Fire," Xu Qingfan slowly explained.

"Junior Brother Xu, does this mean you can now cultivate both Wood and Fire spirit?" Among them, Lv Qingshang’s curiosity was the hardest to contain, and he was the first to ask upon hearing Xu Qingfan and Feng Qingtian’s conversation.

Xu Qingfan smiled wryly, "Cultivate both Wood and Fire? It’s not that simple. I haven’t fully integrated the Wutong branch into my body. Every time I use it, it requires all my focus and my vital blood as a catalyst, which comes at a high cost. I have no strength left to perform wood techniques simultaneously. I’m far from mastering both, let alone mixed Wood and Fire techniques."

"Even so, Junior Brother Xu, to possess both the Wutong branch with Phoenix Spirit Qi and the ‘Spirit Purging Sutra’ is an enviable opportunity," Wang Qingjun said with a smile.

Jin Qinghan had gathered his complex thoughts from before and now said, "Senior Brother Xu, when we first met, you lamented the elusive Immortal Path and the hopelessness of immortality. Now with the Wutong branch, reaching the Condensed Core Stage seems within reach."

Xu Qingfan shook his head and replied, "My aptitude is poor, and my body cannot automatically absorb Spirit Qi from the heavens and earth. My cultivation progress over the years has been thanks to the help of spiritual pills and the Wood-type Qi sealed within me. Even with the Wutong branch, even if I fully refine it and merge it within me, Core Formation still seems unlikely. I might just become a Lingji Stage cultivator with power no less than the Condensed Core Stage, yet immortality remains distant."

At this point, Xu Qingfan paused, reflecting on the daunting path of cultivation, his tone turning slightly melancholic, "Moreover, once a cultivator steps into the Condensed Core Stage, they can no longer rely on external power to enhance their cultivation. They must rely entirely on absorbing Spirit Qi from the heavens and earth themselves. Even if I happen to reach the Condensed Core Stage by luck, how would I further advance my cultivation?"

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s despondency, Jin Qinghan quickly comforted him, "Senior Brother Xu, don’t lose heart. With our cultivation, our time in this world is still long. You have many opportunities, and who knows what future opportunities may arise."

Xu Qingfan did not agree with Jin Qinghan’s words. While he still had a long life ahead, the cultivation path was exceedingly difficult, with strength becoming increasingly harder to gain. Opportunities were not something you could encounter just by wishing, and Xu Qingfan couldn’t imagine any opportunity that could aid a Condensed Core Stage cultivator in enhancing their powers.

However, not wanting Jin Qinghan to worry, Xu Qingfan nodded with a smile and then frowned, saying, "Speaking of the Phoenix Spirit Fire, there’s something important to mention to everyone. The disciples from the Xuantian Gate and Yellow Spirit Mountain who were killed by fire left behind a lingering presence of Phoenix Spirit Fire, suggesting they were killed by Phoenix Spirit Fire."

"What?"

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Jin Qinghan and the others were shocked. Feng Qingtian had the Phoenix bloodline, and Xu Qingfan possessed the Wutong branch, both rare opportunities. But how could the person who killed the disciples of Xuantian Gate and Yellow Spirit Mountain use the Phoenix Spirit Fire?

A vague sense of foreboding crept into everyone’s hearts.

Xu Qingfan looked at everyone’s shocked expressions, his face also extremely serious, and then he slowly said, "If I’m not mistaken, everything happening on Huandao Island is closely related to our Jiuhua Gate. So, until the elders from our sect arrive, we must be careful, lest others take advantage."

Feng Qingtian said gravely, "So far only we know about those people being killed by Phoenix Spirit Fire because the Divine Sense of the other six sects isn’t strong enough, and they aren’t familiar with the aura of the Phoenix Spirit Fire. My worry is that such a big event on Huandao Island will certainly lead the sect leaders and elders from other factions to arrive here soon, and they will examine the bodies of the disciples. If any of them have encountered Phoenix Spirit Fire before and know its aura, then we won’t be able to clear ourselves of suspicion."

Hearing Feng Qingtian’s words, everyone became even more serious, a look of worry showing in their eyes.

But Xu Qingfan had other thoughts in his mind, recalling what Liu Huaxiang had told him when introducing the Wutong branch. According to Liu Huaxiang, his master wasn’t the only one who acquired the Wutong branch initially; several cultivators obtained it together. Could the person who acted this time be related to those cultivators?

With this thought, Xu Qingfan pondered deeply.

Thus, the group of five fell into silence, each person lost in their thoughts, their faces all deeply serious.

Suddenly, the five of them shuddered, then stood up abruptly, looking around themselves.

In what was once pitch darkness, hundreds of eerie, frightening green lights suddenly appeared, growing clearer and larger, bringing a strong smell of blood with them.

After using the Sky Eye Skill to see the surroundings clearly, Xu Qingfan whispered urgently, "Everyone be careful, it’s the ‘Green Snake Dragon’!"