"Human, this is no illusion, it is a domain, my domain. Only when humans reach the Nascent Soul stage can they construct a domain," the Nine Netherworld Fire transformed into a skull and cackled, "Once you enter my territory, you will never leave. I want your body!"
"Want my body? It won't be that easy!" Xiao Man said in a deep voice, "You have only just gained sentience, and are ultimately incomplete. It's a pity you encountered me. You are destined to become a part of me!"
While Xiao Man was busy devouring the Nine Netherworld Fire, a guest arrived in the Eastern Yue Forest, heading directly for the Extreme North Marsh. Their purpose was clear: the flood dragon had been killed, and this person's target was undoubtedly the Nine Netherworld Fire hidden beneath the deep pool.
The newcomer moved with extreme speed, a streak of light, shooting into the Extreme North Marsh. Lu Qing inadvertently sensed this presence and frowned slightly. What was happening? Someone was heading towards Xiao Man's location. Was it friend or foe?
"Xi Wen, you continue hunting the Hundred Corpses. I'll be back soon."
"Yes, Martial Granduncle."
Xi Wen continued hunting the Hundred Corpses. Hunting the Hundred Corpses was their objective, while Xiao Man's goal was always different. His task was to prevent their group from being last and to provide cover for Xiao Man.
The figure stopped by the cold pool, pondered for a moment, and then entered it.
When Lu Qing arrived, he only saw ripples on the surface of the cold pool, not the person who had entered earlier. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Has he gone down already?"
Lu Qing pondered for a moment, not daring to enter rashly. Instead, he waited outside. If this person intended to harm Xiao Man, he could launch a surprise attack when they emerged. As for the situation underwater, with her intelligence, she should be able to handle it.
Xiao Man was experiencing unprecedented pain. The process of devouring the exotic fire was exceptionally painful and lengthy. If the exotic fire had no sentience, it wouldn't be this difficult. Who knew that the Nine Netherworld Fire had gained sentience? She had to first erase its sentience before devouring it to make it her own.
"Ah!" A scream came from the bottom. The newcomer stopped, their deep gaze fixed on the depths.
"Has someone beaten me to it?"
A moment later, the person rapidly sank. Regardless of who it was, they had to obtain the Nine Netherworld Fire.
Upon seeing the person struggling in agony, engulfed in icy blue flames, the newcomer was slightly stunned, their steps halting. They hadn't expected to meet the person they wished to see so soon.
Xiao Man was being tortured to the brink of death by the exotic fire, yet she couldn't die. Her cultivation was too low, and devouring exotic fire was inherently risky. If she couldn't endure it, she would lose everything. She had to do her utmost to maintain her sanity and prevent the exotic fire from retaliating.
"Xiao Man, long time no see."
Just as Xiao Man's sanity was about to break, a voice rang out beside her ear, like thunder, exploding in her mind!
Xiao Man looked in the direction of the voice. Not far away stood a person, clad in white robes and white shoes, with a clear and refined countenance. Even if he turned to ash, she would recognize him!
"Feng Mo Ran!" Xiao Man spat out the name through gritted teeth. The pain from devouring the exotic fire was far less than the pain Feng Mo Ran had inflicted upon her!
Feng Mo Ran looked at Xiao Man, a gentle smile unchanging on his face. "Long time no see. To think you would treat your teacher this way when you see me. You truly break my heart!"
"I thought you were dead!"
Feng Mo Ran crossed his arms, his smile unwavering. "As long as you are alive, how could I die? Look at your state. If you cannot subdue the exotic fire, you will perish here today."
Xiao Man's teeth were almost ground to dust. It was the worst possible timing to encounter Feng Mo Ran. Even if she managed to subdue the exotic fire, she would likely be attacked by Feng Mo Ran. Here, alone, if Feng Mo Ran attacked her now, she would have no ability to resist.
"Don't worry, I won't attack you at this moment." Feng Mo Ran seemed to have read Xiao Man's thoughts. "You are heartless to me, but I cannot be too heartless to you. However, in exchange, you must tell me the whereabouts of the Tong Tian Tower."
"It's lost!" Xiao Man fought the Nine Netherworld Fire within her with all her might. She had to subdue it quickly. Feng Mo Ran daring to appear here alone must be for the Nine Netherworld Fire, and his cultivation was likely close to the Nascent Soul stage!
Resisting the erosion of the Nine Netherworld Fire while guarding against Feng Mo Ran's sneak attack, even Xiao Man, as powerful as she was, seemed to be struggling under such circumstances.
Suddenly, Xiao Man's vision went black. When she opened her eyes again, she was on a boundless ice plain. The biting cold wind scraped against her face like knives, making her skin sting.
Xiao Man tried to circulate her true qi to resist the cold, but found that no matter how she circulated it, she couldn't ward off the bone-chilling cold.
The biting wind seemed to want to freeze her into ice, making her a part of this cold, desolate land.
"Hee hee." A child's laughter echoed in her ears. Ice beads had already formed on Xiao Man's eyelashes, and her lips had turned a bruised blue. In this moment, Xiao Man felt like a lost person. Her thin clothes rustled in the cold wind, and her body had already gone numb with cold.
Xiao Man's body swayed twice, and she collapsed, falling onto the ice, no longer moving.
A child wearing a red bellyband appeared before Xiao Man. Looking at Xiao Man's frozen state, he smiled. "Once you enter my Ice Prison, no one can escape. I will take over your body."
"Just you?"
The child was startled and instantly turned into a ball of flame, attempting to escape. Xiao Man, with her sharp eyes and quick hands, reached out and grabbed the ball of flame. The flame struggled and shrieked incessantly.
"Despicable! You faked being unconscious!"
"Little thing, has no one told you that humans are the most cunning of animals?" Xiao Man said softly, clutching the Nine Netherworld Fire in her hand. "Facing humans, your little bit of intelligence is nowhere near enough!"
"Are you going to kill me?"
"I won't kill you, but you must help me deal with the person outside." Xiao Man asked in a low voice. She was no match for Feng Mo Ran, but this was the Nine Netherworld Fire's territory. Perhaps the Nine Netherworld Fire had a way to deal with Feng Mo Ran.
"That person is like you. He's also here to kill me."
"I won't kill you. As long as you help me drive away the person outside, you must contract with me and serve me for a hundred years. After a hundred years, I will grant you freedom, or when I find a replacement flame, I can also grant you freedom."
"Really?"
"Our clan is known for keeping its promises." Xiao Man raised three fingers. "I can make a solemn vow."
The flame of the Nine Netherworld Fire leaped in Xiao Man's hand, as if contemplating the sincerity of her words. "What's in it for me?"