Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Devouring the Heavenly Fire (2)

Before formally attempting to devour the heavenly fire, Lou Yun had envisioned many possible scenarios. However, the situation unfolding now was utterly beyond his expectations. Not only could the spiritual energy of the Dream Emperor Sword not forcibly decompose and devour the Fusang Fire, it instead seemed like the Fusang Fire was devouring it. If this continued, would the Dream Emperor Sword itself be devoured as well?

If even the Dream Emperor Sword vanished entirely, Lou Yun’s life would essentially be over!

At this moment, both Chang Xiang and Xiao Huo could clearly see Lou Yun’s entire body drenched as if freshly pulled from water. Sweat poured out like rain.

Naturally, Chang Xiang, through his spiritual sense, witnessed the turmoil within Lou Yun’s body. This too was unforeseen, and things were developing in the worst possible direction. Yet, he had absolutely no solution. Could he force Lou Yun to swallow Xiao Huo again, and then have Xiao Huo try to devour the Fusang Fire? That hardly seemed viable.

Though Chang Xiang felt as frantic as ants on a hot pan, he was utterly powerless and helpless against Lou Yun’s current plight!

Watching the spiritual energy continuously merge into the Fusang Fire, Lou Yun felt extreme desperation. At this rate, all the spiritual energy within his body would soon be completely absorbed by the Fusang Fire. And then, the Dream Emperor Sword itself would likely be devoured!

What should he do?

Lou Yun’s mind raced, desperately seeking a solution to this predicament. However, as his internal spiritual energy rapidly diminished, he found himself completely unable to calm down. How could he possibly think of anything helpful?

Until only about one-tenth of his spiritual energy remained. Lou Yun gritted his teeth and made a bold decision.

Since the Fusang Fire could devour spiritual energy, fine! He’d simply let it devour the Dream Emperor Sword itself! He wanted to see if he, the master of the Fusang Fire, would be destroyed by its backlash!

Just as Lou Yun prepared to do this, he suddenly noticed a flicker of… green inside the Fusang Fire.

Lou Yun froze, wondering if his inner vision was faulty. How could green appear within the red Fusang Fire? He focused intently and looked again.

This time, his astonishment deepened. Inside the Fusang Fire, a vivid splash of green had indeed appeared! And this patch of green was steadily expanding, like a blade of grass, growing rapidly amidst the influx of spiritual energy!

Wait… this green wasn’t grass. It was clearly a green tree!

Starting as a minuscule sapling, it swiftly grew, branching out and spreading its leaves, until it became a large tree. Though "large" was relative to the Fusang Fire itself.

If the Fusang Fire were akin to a world, this grand, verdant tree stood like a pillar within it, reaching to the sky and rooting into the ground, seeming to hold the very mass of the Fusang Fire aloft!

Lou Yun could scarcely believe his eyes. A green tree had actually sprouted within the Heavenly Fire Fusang!

What on earth was happening?

With the emergence of this tree, the previously violently agitated Fusang Fire finally calmed down. Its flames settled back into steadiness, burning quietly and peacefully. Simultaneously, its volume visibly began to shrink, as if, at this very moment, it was willingly integrating itself into the Dream Emperor Sword!

And so, the Fusang Fire shrank relentlessly, becoming smaller and smaller, smaller and smaller, until it simply vanished altogether into the Dream Emperor Sword!

Lou Yun knew, however, that the Fusang Fire hadn’t truly disappeared. It had been devoured by the Dream Emperor Sword, thoroughly merging with it into a single entity!

The Dream Emperor Sword had undergone a subtle transformation. Its shape remained unchanged, but now, a pattern intertwined with red and green ran from the hilt to the tip. Upon closer inspection, this pattern unmistakably depicted the Fusang Fire itself enveloping a green tree!

Simultaneously, Lou Yun felt it clearly: within the space of the Dream Emperor Sword, an expansion occurred in the blink of an eye, swelling to more than double its previous size. The entire sword began to tremble uncontrollably, accompanied by a faint humming resonance.

This signified the Dream Emperor Sword, Lou Yun’s magical weapon, had successfully completed the process of devouring a Heavenly Fire. Its realm had leaped directly from the mid-stage five-star level to the early stage of the advanced one-star level!

This outcome now proved that the Devour Weapons technique was capable of more than just advancing by devouring common weapons or Divine Heavenly Weapons; Heavenly Fires could also be devoured and used for cultivation!

Having achieved this major rank advancement for his magical weapon, Lou Yun did not immediately open his eyes. He remained immersed in reliving the devouring process. Simultaneously, his mind was receiving information from the now-integrated Fusang Fire, knowledge fused with the Dream Emperor Sword.

This highlighted the difference between subduing and devouring. Though Lou Yun had previously subdued the Fusang Fire, his own strength had limited his insights; he could merely control and manifest it. Now, having devoured it, he possessed not only control but also an innate, comprehensive understanding of the Fusang Fire itself.

Observing Lou Yun’s expression finally settling into peace, Xiao Huo let out a puff of air from its tiny mouth, like a long sigh of relief. It then resettled itself into a more comfortable position and promptly resumed its slumber. Being a demon beast, possessing some intelligence but far less than a human, it was content knowing its master Lou Yun was safe. Other matters were insignificant to it now; sleep was all it desired!

The other observer, however, seemed to have turned into a stone statue. He remained frozen in his standing posture, his handsome face a mask of mingled disbelief and overwhelming excitement.

Chang Xiang’s spiritual vision had clearly witnessed the entire process of Lou Yun devouring the Heavenly Fire. Seeing a tree sprout within the Fusang Fire had also rendered him dumbstruck; he couldn’t comprehend it at all. Now, witnessing Lou Yun truly succeed in devouring the Heavenly Fire, achieving a major rank advance into the advanced stage of the magical weapon realm, and experiencing a visible surge in overall power… all this filled him with elation and exhilaration!

And so, within the confines of this small room, three beings existed: one stunned, one deep in thought, and one fast asleep. Time itself seemed to flow into stillness.

After a long while, Lou Yun finally opened his eyes. The first sight greeting him was that of Chang Xiang’s face, still etched with profound shock and lingering delight. This unexpected expression caused Lou Yun a moment’s pause.

He hesitated, then spoke: "Brother Chang, what is it?"

Lou Yun’s call seemed to jolt Chang Xiang’s soul back into his body. He blinked rapidly, regaining full awareness. He stared directly at Lou Yun before him, his mouth opening as if to speak… yet for long moments, no sound emerged. The sheer number of questions swirling within him made it impossible to decide which one to ask first.

Thankfully, Lou Yun understood. He laughed heartily. "Haha, Brother Chang, the true origin and purpose of the Fusang Fire turn out to be much more complex than what you told me back then!"

"Explain!" Chang Xiang managed to squeeze the single word out.

Earlier, following Lou Yun’s successful initial binding of the Fusang Fire, Chang Xiang had recounted its supposed origins. It was said to be a spark of flame accidentally released into the mortal world when the sun was born, later concealed within Fusang Mountain. Among the Eighteen Known Heavenly Fires, it was regarded as the lowest rank.

This constituted the entirety of Chang Xiang’s knowledge about the Fusang Fire, and he had truthfully conveyed it to Lou Yun. Now, Lou Yun’s words implied secrets that Chang Xiang himself had been unaware of.

Knowing Chang Xiang’s impatience, Lou Yun wasted no time, delivering his explanation directly: "Indeed, the Fusang Fire is flame that fell to the world during the sun’s birth. However, Fusang Mountain is not actually a mountain; it was a tree. This flame fell onto the Fusang Tree. Fire and wood, elements inherently opposed… yet miraculously, they achieved coexistence. As time flowed, they didn’t just settle together; they gradually merged into one!"

"The true Fusang Fire is the flame inherently containing the Fusang Tree!"

Upon hearing Lou Yun’s explanation, Chang Xiang blinked hard. Evidently, this revelation about the Fusang Fire’s genuine provenance was entirely new to him. Moreover, he trusted Lou Yun implicitly; after all, Lou Yun had successfully devoured the Fusang Fire and merged it with the Dream Emperor Sword.

Pausing thoughtfully, Chang Xiang prompted further: "So… what exactly does the Fusang Fire do?"

"Heh," Lou Yun chuckled. "The Fusang Fire ranks last among the Eighteen Heavenly Fires precisely because it possesses the lowest temperature. Yet, because it embodies the essence of the Fusang Tree, it gained a unique ability none of the other seventeen Heavenly Fires possess… Healing!"

Chang Xiang blinked again, echoing word for word: "Healing?"

"Yes!" Lou Yun confirmed emphatically, his own face now beaming with joy. "Healing. The Fusang Wood can be considered one of the finest natural medicines under the heavens, capable of treating almost any injury. Therefore, the Fusang Fire shares this exceptional power – it can heal injuries to both the physical body… and to magical weapons!"

Chang Xiang understood the source of Lou Yun’s radiant joy. Finally, his father Lou Tianming’s grievously damaged magical weapon could be repaired!

Though Beichen Ming had already promised to send someone to restore Lou Tianming’s weapon, Lou Yun himself fervently wished he could be the one to mend his father’s blade.

Previously, he lacked the ability entirely. But now, as the master of the Fusang Fire with its healing capability, he no longer needed assistance from others! He could repair his father’s magical weapon himself!

Chang Xiang still harbored significant confusion. This new understanding clashed completely with everything he thought he knew about the Fusang Fire. That the Heavenly Flame, regarded as an embodiment of cosmic Yang, could serve as medicine or a tool… capable of healing wounded flesh and damaged magical weapons? Who could have foreseen that?

"Tell me… you know how to actually use the Fusang Fire for healing now?"

"I know! However, the potency of the Fusang Fire’s healing is intrinsically linked to my own strength. The higher my cultivation level, the greater the healing effect."

"Hmm." Chang Xiang nodded slowly, then fell once more into deep contemplation.

Lou Yun watched Chang Xiang contemplatively, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. An idea had taken root in his mind: since the Fusang Fire possessed this power to heal both physical bodies and magical weapons, perhaps it could also heal Chang Xiang’s current state of existence as a ‘spirit’… and aid him in regaining his original form.

This, for now, remained solely Lou Yun’s private thought. Without certainty, he refrained from voicing it to Chang Xiang. Hopes raised too high could make the potential fall into disappointment that much more crushing.

A short time later, Chang Xiang snapped back to awareness. He let out a long, drawn-out exhalation, though strictly speaking, he possessed actual breath to exhale; it was more symbolic. His expression then turned intensely serious as he fixed his gaze on Lou Yun. "I made a personal decision some time ago. Resolved that if you ever reached a significant advancement in strength… I would tell you things you have never known before… things you likely haven’t even been able to imagine. Now that your magical weapon has achieved a major rank advancement… the time has come for me to share them!"