92: Wood Flame Hou

Mo Xuan didn't know what was going on; he hadn't been this verbose when teaching his direct Disciple before, but whenever he met Jiang Donghua, he felt terribly uncomfortable if he didn't say a few words.

This Stinky Kid has retreated again. Forget it, this old man still has things to attend to.

Only after Elder Mo Xuan left did Jiang Donghua poke his head out like a mouse.

The junior students who had been flattering him immediately started approaching again.

Jiang Donghua said irritably.

“Why didn't you speak up just now? Do you still want this big shot to guide you in the future?”

The junior students looked at each other, and one slightly bolder young man chuckled as he stepped forward, rubbing his hands and saying.

“Senior Brother Jiang, you've wronged us! With Elder Mo Xuan's gaze, how could we dare to speak? You know what happened last time when some fool interrupted him while he was lecturing—he was punished to copy the 'Pill Fire Record' for three months...”

Jiang Donghua rolled his eyes, leaned lazily back onto the soft chair, crossed his legs, and tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers.

“Heh, you guys are clever. Your ability to adapt to circumstances is much stronger than your pill refining skills.”

Everyone gave a dry laugh, not daring to reply.

Jiang Donghua glanced at them, suddenly grinned, pulled a crumpled Pill Formula from his pocket, and tossed it out casually.

“Here, a first-grade Instant Qi Pill. Refine it successfully, and I'll teach you something real.”

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they quickly accepted the Pill Formula, but upon closer inspection, their expressions immediately froze.

“Senior Brother Jiang, is this... is this Pill Formula a peak first-grade Pill Formula?”

Jiang Donghua yawned lazily and said with narrowed eyes.

“What's wrong? Too difficult? In that case, I'll find someone else.”

“No, no, no! We'll refine it! We'll refine it!”

Everyone quickly agreed, afraid of missing the opportunity.

Jiang Donghua nodded contentedly and waved his hand.

“Go on. Come back and find me once you've successfully refined it.”

Everyone treated the Pill Formula like a treasure and hurried away, clutching it.

Jiang Donghua watched their retreating figures, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.

“Tsk, these guys are much easier to command than a pill cauldron.”

He stretched, his gaze falling onto the system panel.

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Realm: Four-Star Great Dou Shi (2888 / 4000)]

[AFK Income: 12 points / hour]

“At this rate, I'll be able to break through to Five-star Great Dou Master in a few more days.”

He closed his eyes contentedly, continuing to enjoy the pleasure of AFK cultivation.

On the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy, a stream of ice-blue light streaked across the sky, moving neither fast nor slow, like a hawk surveying its territory.

Ice Red spread her Dou Qi wings. The ice-crystal wings refracted a cold, sharp light under the sun, and every flap left faint traces of frost in the air.

Ice Red, an Eight-star Dou Wang and one of the Elders of Jia Nan Academy, primarily cultivated Ice Attribute Dou Qi. Her personality was cold and severe, and she rarely spoke.

Today was just a routine patrol, circling the forest outside the Academy to ensure there were no anomalies.

However, just as she flew past an ancient wood, she suddenly detected a strange aura—a fluctuation of Fire Attribute Dou Qi that was extremely pure, even mixed with a wisp of Wood Attribute vitality.

Ice Red frowned slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in her ice-blue eyes.

“Why would there be such pure Fire Attribute energy in a place like this?”

She restrained her aura, retracted her wings, and landed lightly on the branch of an ancient tree.

A thin layer of ice instantly condensed on the branch beneath her feet, but she stood extremely steadily, not making a single sound.

Scanning downwards, she saw the magical beast, the Wood Flame Howler.

It was a huge magical beast, similar in shape to a rhinoceros, but its entire body was covered in green and red scales, and scarlet bone spurs grew on its back, resembling burning flames.

Its teeth were sharp as knives. It was currently chewing loudly on a century-old tree. With every chew, wisps of green flame overflowed from its mouth, igniting the wood shavings, only to be instantly sucked back into its body.

Most striking was its heart area. Through the scales, one could clearly see a pulsating ball of flame mixed with emerald green Wood Attribute energy, like a burning piece of jade.

“Wood-Fire Twin Heart...”

Ice Red murmured softly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

This type of magical beast was extremely rare. Its heart contained special energy that was fire within wood, making it the Beast Fire dreamed of by Alchemists.

If obtained, it would be enough to refine high-grade pills.

The Wood Flame Howler seemed to sense something, abruptly raised its head, and its scarlet eyes stared directly in Ice Red's direction.

“Roar—!”

With a low roar, the surrounding temperature suddenly rose. The leaves and branches of the trees began to wither and scorch, and the air was filled with a scorching aura.

Ice Red’s expression remained unchanged. Her fingertip moved slightly, and a wisp of cold air condensed in her palm.

“The strength of a Six-Star Dou Ling.”

Ice Red was not in a hurry to attack; instead, she calmly assessed the situation.

As an Ice Attribute Dou Wang, she naturally countered Fire Attribute magical beasts, but the Wood Flame Howler’s special physique gave it a certain resistance to Ice Attribute Dou Qi.

“However, since I encountered it, I can't leave empty-handed.”

Ice Red’s lips curved slightly. Ice-blue Dou Qi circulated around her body, and the surrounding air began to condense into tiny ice crystals.

The Wood Flame Howler stomped its four hooves heavily on the ground. Its green and red scales suddenly lit up, and scorching fire waves erupted from its body, instantly withering the surrounding vegetation.

Letting out a low roar, it turned and fled without hesitation. Its thick limbs plowed deep furrows in the ground, and it moved extremely fast, rushing toward the depths of the forest like a burning meteor.

“Trying to run?”

Ice Red’s lips curled up, and a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.

She lightly raised her jade hand. A wisp of ice-blue Dou Qi condensed on her fingertip, and she flicked it gently.

“Profound Ice Barrier!”

“Crack——”

In an instant, the air within dozens of zhang suddenly froze, and an ice wall several zhang thick condensed out of thin air, blocking the Wood Flame Howler's escape route!

“Boom!”

The Wood Flame Howler slammed violently into the ice wall. The scorching flames collided with the profound cold ice, emitting a piercing "hissing" sound. White mist steamed up, and the beast was knocked back several steps by the recoil. It shook its head, its eyes blazing with fierce light; it was clearly enraged.

“Roar—!”

It suddenly raised its head and spat out a blast of intertwined green and red flames, shooting straight toward Ice Red in the sky!

“Heh, quite a temper you have.”

Ice Red chuckled softly. She waved her plain hand, and Ice Attribute Dou Qi transformed into a crystalline ice mirror in front of her. When the flames hit it, they were completely reflected back!

“Bang!”

The Wood Flame Howler stumbled backward after being hit by its own flames, scorch marks appearing on its scales.

It finally realized that the human before it was not an existence it could contend with!

“Alright, playtime is over.”

Ice Red’s gaze sharpened. Her jade foot lightly tapped the void, and her figure flickered like a phantom, instantly appearing above the Wood Flame Howler's head.

“Ice Seal Thousands of Miles!”

Her palm faced downward, and a vast amount of Ice Attribute Dou Qi poured out. The ground instantly condensed into a thick layer of ice, and the Wood Flame Howler’s four hooves were frozen in place, unable to move!

“Roar! Roar!”

It struggled frantically, flames erupting from its body, attempting to melt the cold ice. But Ice Red’s Dou Qi was of extremely high quality; how could it easily break free?

Ice Red slowly descended, her toe lightly touching the ice surface. She walked up to the Wood Flame Howler and placed her hand on its head.

“Stop struggling. Come back with me to Jia Nan Academy obediently, and you can avoid a little suffering.”

A trace of fear flashed in the Wood Flame Howler's scarlet eyes, but soon, it seemed to accept its fate, letting out a low roar and ceasing its resistance.

Ice Red nodded in satisfaction. A wisp of Ice Attribute Dou Qi condensed on her fingertip, transforming into an ice chain that wrapped around the Wood Flame Howler’s neck.

“Let's go. I'll take you to meet those little guys in the Alchemy Department.”

With a gentle tug, the Wood Flame Howler’s massive body was easily dragged up by her, and she flew toward Jia Nan Academy.

An Eight-star Dou Wang was truly terrifying!