Meanwhile, Fuchuan chased after the fire dragon at full speed. His black figure leaped from one burning branch to another.
He seemed to be eating the spirit fire faster than before. It did not take long before the burning trees stopped burning.
After putting out the flames, Fuchuan jumped back to Zhu Mingyan’s side. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly pounced on her and greedily opened his mouth toward her vulnerable neck—
But Zhu Mingyan had been prepared.
She immediately threw out the modified collar she had prepared. The collar landed securely around Fuchuan’s neck.
Caught off guard, Fuchuan froze. He lifted a front paw and scratched at the collar in confusion.
At that moment, Zhu Mingyan felt as if her entire body were being boiled alive by fire. She was in terrible pain.
She quickly tugged on the collar and said urgently,
“What are you standing around for? Hurry and eat the spirit fire!”
The collar tightened around Fuchuan’s neck.
Instinctively, he looked up at Zhu Mingyan.
Her whole body was wrapped in black-red spirit flames. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her pale face looked almost ghostly in the firelight.
She looks like she’s in pain, he thought.
So he rested himself against her shoulder, took a deep breath, and swallowed all of the spirit fire leaking from her body.
His head was close to her neck. Beneath her skin, he could sense something hot flowing through her veins.
That familiar, tempting scent awakened an instinct deep within him.
An overwhelming urge to bite down surged through his mind.
Dazed, he opened his mouth and almost pressed his sharp teeth against her skin.
Then he suddenly remembered what had happened that day.
She had been furious. She had pinned him down and choked him. After struggling, she had dragged herself away, looking exhausted and broken.
A stronger feeling than desire suddenly woke him up—fear.
He quickly closed his mouth, rubbed his head against her neck in a flattering manner, and focused on absorbing the spirit fire.
After several moments, Zhu Mingyan checked the flow of spiritual energy within her body.
Thanks to Fuchuan’s help, the spirit fire that had been rampaging wildly through her bloodlines was finally under control. Her meridians and spiritual energy were becoming stable again.
The burning sensation remained strong, but it was now bearable.
She tightened the collar slightly and pointed at a huge rock nearby.
“Next, I’m going to attack that rock. You eat any fire that spreads around it.”
As she spoke, she gathered a ball of spirit fire in her hand and violently launched it toward the rock.
The rock exploded instantly.
Dust filled the air.
Everything in front of Zhu Mingyan became gray and blurry. She could only make out scattered flames greedily devouring the air.
The moment the attack was launched, Fuchuan had already rushed out.
His speed at consuming spirit fire was astonishing.
Within moments, he had completely controlled the flames.
He then sat proudly in place and barked twice.
Zhu Mingyan casually patted him and immediately found several more rocks to use as targets.
While releasing spirit fire attack after attack, she tried to recover the combat instincts she had once possessed.
She felt refreshed and exhilarated.
She was completely unaware that she was practically destroying the entire forest.
The chaos in Mingxi Forest quickly attracted attention from everyone on Huai’an Peak.
As the main peak of the Broken Blade Sect, Huai’an Peak housed not only the Sect Master’s residence but also important places like the Council Hall and the Records Office.
Many disciples came and went there every day.
When people heard the loud explosions coming from halfway up the mountain, saw smoke rising into the sky, and felt the ground shaking, they were shocked.
The Broken Blade Sect was one of the Four Great Sects of the cultivation world.
Very few people would dare challenge it openly.
Who could be causing such a disturbance?
The elders discussing matters in the Council Hall hurried toward Mingxi Forest, some angry and some worried.
The disciples running errands also rushed over out of curiosity.
And what they found was Zhu Mingyan happily wrecking the place.
…
Zhu Mingyan was floating steadily in midair, supported by a mass of black-red spirit fire.
She looked carefree and full of energy, completely different from the depressed and defeated person she had been before.
It was as if she had returned to the person she had been several years ago.
Both of her arms were wrapped in spirit fire.
One after another, she launched devastating attacks at rocks and empty spaces.
After every deafening explosion, a black figure would race after the flames, devour every bit of spirit fire before it could burn nearby plants or buildings, then happily bark and run back to Zhu Mingyan for praise.
Everyone was stunned.
Is this really Zhu Mingyan?
Wasn’t her spiritual root damaged? Didn’t she lose all her cultivation?
Had she been hiding her true abilities all this time?
And what is that black creature? Why can it eat fire?
The crowd exchanged looks.
Many wanted to ask questions, but no one wanted to be the first to speak.
Finally, a cultivator who looked about forty years old could no longer hold back.
“Mingyan! What are you doing?!”
Only then did Zhu Mingyan stop.
It was as if she had suddenly woken from a dream.
She looked around in confusion.
…
Mingxi Forest had once been beautiful, with rocks, trees, and grass blending together naturally.
Now it was covered with broken stones, snapped branches, and fallen leaves.
Although there was no large fire, the area had still suffered heavy damage.
Dozens of people stood around her.
With a quick glance, she recognized several elders.
Every one of them wore a complicated expression.
Flustered, Zhu Mingyan descended to the ground.
The spirit fire around her had not completely faded.
She lowered her head, cupped her hands respectfully toward the first elder who had spoken, and said apologetically,
“Elder Qu, I was preparing for tomorrow’s secret realm trial. I may have gone a little overboard…”
Elder Qu waved his hand.
He did not live on Huai’an Peak. Even if the entire peak were destroyed, he would not care much.
There was something else he cared about more.
He rushed forward and grabbed Zhu Mingyan’s hands.
His voice was full of excitement and hope.
“Has your spiritual power recovered? Has your spirit fire recovered too? Is that your spirit beast?”
Zhu Mingyan smiled awkwardly.
“To be honest, I’m still trying to find a way to fully recover. Looking at this mess should make that obvious.”
Elder Qu immediately looked disappointed.
Still, he comforted her.
“You’re clearly much better than before. I’m sure you’ll recover completely soon.”
“When your cultivation returns, remember to visit Chongyuan Peak again!”
“The boys in my peak have always wanted to spar with you. Unfortunately, after what happened to you…”
He sighed repeatedly.
…
Chongyuan Peak was famous for having the most battle-crazy cultivators in the sect.
It was filled with sword cultivators and body cultivators who loved fighting.
Before Zhu Mingyan’s accident, she was constantly dragged there for sparring matches.
Elder Qu had always praised her highly.
As a result, the lunatics of Chongyuan Peak challenged her one after another like they had been injected with endless energy.
Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
Zhu Mingyan laughed awkwardly and was about to give a vague answer when a sharp voice interrupted her.
“Senior Sister Zhu is certainly impressive. Such a huge commotion. Anyone who didn’t know better would think someone was trying to tear down Huai’an Peak!”
Zhu Mingyan turned toward the voice.
She saw an unfamiliar girl around her age.
The girl had fair skin, downward-pointing brows, and wore red clothes with narrow sleeves.
She clearly seemed unhappy with Zhu Mingyan.
Zhu Mingyan blinked.
…?
And who are you supposed to be?