Chapter Nine: The Flame of Bifang

Hearing this, Zhang Xiao turned around and saw a ring of crystal-clear water surrounding the pyramid. A vast aura of spiritual energy emanated from it. Cautiously, Zhang Xiao stepped forward and carefully extracted a drop of the water, scanning it meticulously with his divine sense. Satisfied that there was nothing amiss, he retrieved the damaged flying sword from his bone ring and infused the drop of the Water of Rebirth into it.

“Deng!” The flying sword in Zhang Xiao’s hand trembled violently. Although the blade remained battered, he could feel the sword spirit within rapidly recovering. Relieved, Zhang Xiao realized that the Water of Rebirth could indeed permeate through a magical treasure to enter the sword spirit inside. Otherwise, it would have been truly troublesome. Despite possessing True Spirit Water and Soul-Calming Fruit, he could not penetrate the core of his treasures to nourish the spirits within—hence his arduous search for the Water of Rebirth.

Drawing out the Xuantian Talisman, Zhang Xiao carefully dropped a single drop of the Water of Rebirth onto it. Feeling Zi Yan’s aura slowly reviving, his heart swelled with joy. Yet, this journey had not been easy. Naturally, Zhang Xiao would not waste the abundant Water of Rebirth before him. Producing a purple clay bottle, he cast a spell, causing the vessel to tremble. A suction force emanated from its mouth, continuously drawing in the Water of Rebirth. The bottle already contained about thirty jin of True Spirit Water, but had ample internal space.

Without fear of mixing, Zhang Xiao poured spiritual power into the bottle continuously. Like a small river, the Water of Rebirth was swiftly collected in its entirety. Stowing the purple clay bottle away, Zhang Xiao glanced at Kama, who trembled as he caressed the pyramid before him, his eyes shining with fanatic light. “Anubis’s Staff! Hahaha!” Kama suddenly thrust his fingers into the pyramid and slowly withdrew a pitch-black staff.

An icy, cruel aura radiated from the staff. Zhang Xiao’s expression changed; the staff’s presence was even more terrifying than that of a supreme treasure. Seeing Kama’s crazed expression, Zhang Xiao grew wary.

“Young master, the Flame of Bi Fang,” Zi Yan’s voice came from the Xuantian Talisman just as Zhang Xiao was about to consider fleeing first. Startled, Zhang Xiao quickly transmitted, “Yan’er, what’s wrong? Is there any danger?”

Touched by his concern, Zi Yan, though unaware of the surroundings, sensed a tremendous opportunity and hurriedly said, “Young master, that golden flame is the flame of the divine beast Bi Fang.”

Only then did Zhang Xiao realize and turned to gaze at the flame atop the pyramid. The golden fire resembled molten gold. Within it floated a crystal orb the size of a football, inside which sat a one-legged immortal crane. The golden flames radiated from the crane’s body. Zhang Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply as he exclaimed, “Bi Fang!”

Yet, he quickly reasoned that this was not the real Bi Fang. As a celestial creature, Bi Fang could not be easily confined. The figure inside the crystal orb must be either a fragment of Bi Fang’s primordial spirit or some essence derived from the immortal crane.

Regardless, Zhang Xiao had resolved that he must possess this Flame of Bi Fang. Approaching the second stage of cultivation, wielding this flame would multiply his power manifold upon transformation.

Before Zhang Xiao could act, Kama’s aura suddenly shifted. Black mist surged forth from the staff and coiled up his arm. Kama’s face twisted as he frantically tried to toss the staff away, but it clung to his palm like superglue. “Quick, help me!” he begged.

As the black mist began to envelop Kama’s head, Zhang Xiao’s expression darkened. Instead of aiding Kama, he leapt over his head, waving his palm to summon pure Yang energy that immediately wrapped the Bi Fang flame on the pyramid.

Zhang Xiao channeled the Yang energy to draw the flame closer, but unexpectedly, it did not budge.

“Ah! Ah!” Kama’s agonized screams pierced the air as the black mist invaded his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, penetrating into his skull. Even with Zhang Xiao’s strong will, the gruesome scene was hard to bear.

Zhang Xiao slashed with a sword energy strike aimed at Kama. Based on prior observation, Kama’s physique was no match for temple warriors and would surely be slain by such an attack if unprepared. Yet, to Zhang Xiao’s surprise, the staff in Kama’s hand emitted a dark veil that blocked the sword energy. Alarmed, Zhang Xiao realized the staff possessed protective abilities.

“Lowly human, you dare to challenge the dignity of the gods?” Kama’s voice was cold and resonant, imbued with an awe-inspiring authority. Zhang Xiao’s face remained impassive as his eyes fixed on the pyramid below. Both the staff and the Bi Fang flame were connected to this pyramid.

An idea sparked in Zhang Xiao’s mind. He summoned the Heavenly Yang Sword and struck the pyramid beside him with a mighty blow. No mere pyramid could withstand such a strike; stones shattered and scattered. With the pyramid destroyed, Zhang Xiao once more drew the Bi Fang flame with pure Yang energy. This time, it came effortlessly.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiao stored the Bi Fang flame into his bone ring and activated the Demon Charm Shadow technique, dashing swiftly down the corridor.

Moments after Zhang Xiao’s departure, Kama’s figure suddenly expanded wildly. Black fur sprouted from his body, and his hands and feet turned pitch black like claws. Most terrifyingly, his head transformed into that of a jackal, mirroring the death god Anubis depicted in the murals.

“Damn thief, you won’t escape!” Kama roared, and all the undead guardians in the palace seemed to receive the command simultaneously, converging to chase after Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao’s expression darkened as he sensed the pursuing aura. Although their power was comparable to Kama’s, their essence had undergone a qualitative change. It was akin to the difference between Nascent Soul and Golden Core stages; a Nascent Soul cultivator could easily overcome a Golden Core one of equal spiritual energy.

Kama’s condition now resembled this disparity.

“Roar!!” The undead guardians blocked Zhang Xiao’s path. Instantly, scales sprouted from his body, enveloping him completely. He then produced the Five-Colored Cloud Flag from his mouth, which transformed into layers of multicolored clouds shielding his form.

His Heavenly Yang Sword became a streak of silver light as he unleashed the Demon Charm Shadow technique, rapidly slicing the undead guardians into pieces. “Boom, boom, boom!” Explosions erupted as the guardians self-destructed, shattering the corridor into debris.

Amidst the dust, Zhang Xiao emerged swiftly, though his scale armor was badly damaged. Were it not for the Five-Colored Cloud Flag’s protection, he would have been grievously wounded by the blasts.

Suppressing the internal injuries caused by the shockwaves, Zhang Xiao’s brow twitched. His clone burst forth from his sea of consciousness, seized his true self, and activated the Divine Footstep technique to escape quickly. Though the Demon Charm Shadow was superior in agility, Divine Footstep was unmatched in sheer speed for fleeing danger.

In a flash, the clone and Zhang Xiao’s figure streaked out of the grand hall.

“Young master, hold on a little longer. The Great Transfer Array will activate in half an hour.” Due to the severe damage to the Xuantian Talisman, although Zhang Xiao had revived Zi Yan, its cracks delayed the array’s activation by several times. Hearing this, Zhang Xiao smiled bitterly and suddenly froze, staring ahead.

A wolf-headed humanoid creature strode forward, grinning. “Your divine sense is strong; you found me so quickly. Hand over the Solar Divine Flame.”

Solar Divine Flame? Zhang Xiao’s brow furrowed. Drawing out the Bi Fang flame from his bone ring, its golden fire sparked greed in the creature’s eyes.

“Not bad, you’re sensible,” the creature chuckled.

As the jackal-headed monster reached to grab the flame, Zhang Xiao’s Heavenly Yang Sword flashed a silver light. The creature recoiled as the blade sliced just past its nose. Zhang Xiao withdrew the Bi Fang flame, smiling coldly. “You’re mistaken. This is clearly the Flame of Bi Fang, not the Solar Divine Flame.”

Anger flared in the creature’s eyes. “Hmph! Flame of Bi Fang? Never heard of it. If you won’t hand it over, then die!”

Suddenly, the jackal-headed figure vanished before Zhang Xiao. Caught off guard, Zhang Xiao had no time to summon the Five-Colored Cloud Flag. His clone immediately raised the Heavenly Sound Bell, enveloping both of them in a protective dome.

“Dong!” A heavy thud rang out as the creature’s fist struck the bell. Its speed was so great that had the clone been a moment slower, Zhang Xiao would have suffered grievous injury. This was not teleportation but near-instantaneous velocity, rivaling a blink of an eye.

Still, Zhang Xiao felt a bitter taste in his throat and spat a mouthful of blood. The enemy was formidable. If only he had the crystal cores to activate the Starlight God-Exterminating Array, things might be different.