Chapter 1742: Chapter 1773: New Achievement: Arsonist
The Netherworld has a total of eighteen levels of hell.
Beneath one’s feet is the first level, the Sea of Fire. Upon truly entering this level, one realizes that the path walked before doesn’t even count as the outskirts of the Sea of Fire; the bluestone path underfoot has completely turned crimson.
“Gurgle, gurgle…”
Furnaces can be seen everywhere, and the space is distorted by the heat.
Teams of Netherworld messengers escorting lost souls throw them into these furnaces as if roasting them, with heart-wrenching wails filling the air.
Li Xiaobai shivers at the sight, knowing that if he were thrown in, he might never escape in his next lifetime.
Baihe, accustomed to such sights, skillfully navigates around and arrives at the largest furnace. The flames inside are completely different from those in other furnaces—completely black, and standing in front, one cannot feel any heat, rather quite a chill.
Just one glance, and Li Xiaobai recognizes this as Hellfire.
The flame that was cast into the Immortal Gods Realm years ago has grown in strength and breadth of use far beyond his imagination.
Moreover, this was the first Hellfire not controlled by a powerful cultivator. Li Xiaobai’s eyes blaze with excitement; with just a touch, he could subdue it and make it part of himself.
After burning in the Sea of Fire for so many years and being the core flame of the first level, it must have already devoured limitless resources. If he were to take it, the power of Hellfire would swell to unimaginable proportions.
But with Baihe watching and Netherworld messengers guarding the flames, it seemed unrealistic to take them away under everyone’s gaze.
“The Fire God is here. Who dares disturb me? Do you have a token?”
A burly figure emerged from behind the furnace. His eyes were bloodshot, and he exhaled hot breath with each breath. His full beard and hair were fiery red, resembling flames.
“Baihe Boy, by the order of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, escorting a prisoner.”
Baihe Boy took out a token and shook it.
“Escorting a prisoner?”
“Is this how Ksitigarbha’s people escort prisoners?”
“Look at this lad, fine-skinned and tender, not resembling a prisoner at all.”
The Fire God’s gaze lingered on the token, then suspiciously eyed Li Xiaobai.
The scrutiny from this bearded man made Li Xiaobai feel his body heating, almost setting his hair on fire.
“He cooperates, making it convenient for me. Besides, talking about fine skin, wasn’t that one locked in the eighteenth layer even more tender than him?”
Baihe responded nonchalantly and calmly.
“Can he compare to that one?”
“That is a presence confined to the eighteenth layer. This lad in which layer? In my opinion, even keeping him in my layer is more than enough.”
The Fire God’s voice boomed, vibrating the furnace thrice.
Baihe remained expressionless: “Watch your words. This one is also from the eighteenth layer.”
“Eighteenth layer? Him? Don’t make me laugh. What’s happening with Ksitigarbha lately, sending any prisoner to the eighteenth level? How can such timidity uphold the Netherworld’s fortune?”
“Hmm… your expression doesn’t seem like you’re joking. Could it be true?”
“Is this one really going to the eighteenth layer?”
The Fire God burst into raucous laughter but gradually his expression turned somewhat stiff and he asked with a trace of awkwardness.
“Otherwise, why would I personally escort him?”
“Open the furnace; there are seventeen more levels to go through.”
Baihe Boy said.
“This is strange lately, so many going to the eighteenth layer. Is something happening outside, is there a war?”
“Baihe old lad, I knew you were coming. I was just doing my duty earlier, just joking. This little brother shouldn’t mind either, it’s stifling in the Sea of Fire, hard to come across a living person, got a bit excited.”
The Fire God nodded, starting to turn the furnace.
With a rough exterior changed to another expression, although still seeming brash, Li Xiaobai noticed his eyes flashing with a hint of… fear?
“Among friends, there’s no resentment. Fire God adheres strictly to the rules, not abusing power. This demeanor is commendable, and I’ll surely report it truthfully.”
Baihe Boy nodded and said.
“Baihe old lad is easy to talk with. Actually, it’s not me, the Fire God, being dilatory. Mainly it’s this Hellfire being uncontrollable. Every time you need to go down, I must first close the furnace, but upon opening it, the flames take a long time to reappear. They have quite a temper, and I’m afraid to touch them. Over time, I’m not very willing to assist either.”
The furnace turned with a crunching sound, the Fire God chanting incantations, and the fire of Hellfire rapidly shrank until it finally disappeared.
Li Xiaobai was stunned: “Can the flames extinguish?”
“No wonder you’re headed to the eighteenth layer, seems you know something about the nature of Hellfire. These flames cannot extinguish, merely sealed by special means in a small world, released again after you depart.”
The Fire God explained, knowing Li Xiaobai was a formidable figure bound for the eighteenth layer, his attitude turned extremely affable.
Li Xiaobai nodded slightly: “I see, quite taxing on the small world.”
Baihe had already leapt onto the furnace, and at the moment when the flames shrank, the center of the furnace revealed a staircase descending into endless depths.
This was the entrance to the second level of hell.
The two of them jumped down one after another, embedded in the walls are an enormous Space Ring, presumably the small world for temporarily storing Hellfire mentioned by the Fire God. With a thought, Li Xiaobai secretly released a thread of Hellfire, transforming into a thin strand rushing into that Space Ring.
In an instant, a torrent surged into his mind. After a moment of dizziness, the system panel automatically appeared before him.
[Beep! Detected host reclaiming Hellfire, unlocking achievement, Old Player Returns!]
[Achievement Reward: Special Constitution, Arsonist!]
[Arsonist: Freely manipulate the flames you touch.]
Note: Don’t set hearts on fire.
After five hundred years, he finally reclaimed the first strand of Hellfire, and the reward he received left Li Xiaobai dumbfounded. Yet another special constitution, Arsonist, manipulating flames, perfectly making up for the unrestrained growth of Hellfire.
Checking the system panel, his breath quickened.
[Host: Li Xiaobai.]
[…]
[Magic Treasure: Hellfire, current initial coverage range, 108,000 miles (host’s current cultivation level too low to view burn range).]
[…]
Reclaiming the flames within the furnace vastly increased the initial coverage range of Hellfire to 108,000 miles, this number equivalent to a major domain.
In other words, in future battles, if not intentionally controlled, releasing Hellfire could cover an entire domain, an invincible feat.
As for the power of the flames, it was undoubtedly formidable, at least a strong presence like the Fire God dared not touch it, granting him the confidence to stride through the Immortal Gods Realm.
Ahead, Baihe Boy’s eyes revealed a hint of curiosity, even without turning back, he could sense Li Xiaobai’s state through pulse, heartbeat, and breathing rhythm. Why did it seem that since entering the furnace, this young man’s anxiety and vigilance had diminished greatly?
He seemed not nervous at all?