204: Chapter 204 Mysterious Azure True Fire

The flames surged and danced, wrapped within the Demon Power, struggling desperately like a snake whose vital spot had been seized—thrashing its tail and coiling its body, yet unable to break free.

Wu Li's Demon Power seeped into it steadily and unhurriedly, taming it bit by bit, much like training a hawk, refining it little by little with his Demon Power.

As time passed...

It was unknown how much time had passed, but the flames finally quieted down.

The intensity of its struggle grew smaller and smaller, the frequency of its flickering slower and slower, until finally, like a cat whose fur had been stroked smooth, it curled up within the shroud of Demon Power, no longer resisting.

Wu Li opened his eyes. Reflected in his blood-red pupils was a wisp of Mysterious Cyan True Fire, quietly coiled within his Dantian.

Mysterious Cyan True Fire.

A Low Grade Mysterious-tier flame, gentle as water, seemingly harmless, but actually harboring a scorching power within.

The characteristic of this flame is "burning all things without destroying their form." After it burns through, the object remains, but it is ruined at the core.

When fighting an enemy, it looks like there is no movement, and the opponent might even wonder why it doesn't hurt, but by the time they realize it, their bones, Meridians, and Demon Power are already like wood scorched by fire—looking intact, but crumbling at the slightest touch.

Wu Li clenched his fist, feeling a warm power added to his Dantian.

The Mysterious Cyan True Fire coiled beside the sacred flame pearl, quiet as a pool of warm water, but as long as he willed it, this pool of warm water would turn into magma capable of melting steel.

"Not bad."

Wu Li stood up and stretched his limbs, his joints popping with a crackling sound.

Sensing that Gray Rat had returned, he went out to take a look. Hu Lie was squatting at the entrance of the cave; seeing Wu Li emerge, he raised his head.

"Old Ancestor, have you finished your seclusion?"

Wu Li nodded and walked out of the Immortal Cave. Gray Rat was squatting on a rock by the waterfall, gnawing on a wild fruit.

Seeing Wu Li come out, Gray Rat hurriedly put down the fruit, stood up on his hind legs, clasped his front paws to his chest, and let out a shrill cry.

"Old Ancestor!"

"Old Ancestor, I have figured it out."

Wu Li looked at him: "Speak."

Gray Rat quickly organized his thoughts and began to pour out the information.

"This mountain range is called Black Stone Ridge, three hundred miles east to west, and two hundred miles north to south."

"Where we are, Qingfeng Ravine, is in the western part of Black Stone Ridge, leaning against a small tributary called Black Water River. The water source is clean, but the flow is not large; it might dry up during the dry season."

"To the east is the territory of Horned Dragon. Starting seventy miles east of Qingfeng Ravine and extending all the way to the easternmost river valley of Black Stone Ridge, it is all his sphere of influence."

"That guy has thousands of Yao under his command, over a dozen Second-tier ones, and three capable lieutenants at the Half-step Third-tier, each guarding one of the three main thoroughfares of his territory."

Wu Li's claws tapped lightly on his knees, and he did not speak.

Gray Rat caught his breath and continued.

"To the north, there is a great Yao called E Kuang, separated from Horned Dragon's territory by a mountain ridge."

"E Kuang's true form is an E Kuang Lizard, at the Late Stage of the Third-tier. His territory is a bit smaller than Horned Dragon's, but the Yao under him are fiercer. They often have friction with Horned Dragon's territory, and the two sides are not peaceful."

"To the south is a swamp called something like Ghost Cry Marsh, where the Demonic Qi is very heavy, and it is covered in miasma all year round."

"To the west is the direction we came from; there are no major powers, but it borders the territory of the Human Race, with some scattered small Yao living there, which is of no consequence."

"Within a twenty-mile radius of Qingfeng Ravine, there is no Yao Race activity. Because this place has no Heaven And Earth Treasure or spiritual plants and treasures, no Yao Race has occupied it."

After listening, Wu Li roughly understood the layout of this mountain range.

"During this time, has there been any movement from Horned Dragon's side?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Lie shook his head.

"Not at the moment. Black Feather and the others are guarding the perimeter; they haven't sent back any news, nor have they discovered any Yao sneaking towards Qingfeng Ravine."

Wu Li glanced at Gray Rat: "Call Black Feather over."

Gray Rat slipped into a crack in the rock. A moment later, Black Feather descended from above the waterfall, folded his wings, and stood before Wu Li, his purple-black pupils as steady as usual.

"Old Ancestor."

"What movements have there been on the perimeter recently?"

Black Feather spoke: "Horned Dragon's people in the east have been searching for the pig Yao. They have sent out quite a few small Yao to search everywhere along the mountain paths and river valleys."

"But that group of Yao is not very smart. They searched for several days and didn't find Qingfeng Ravine, but they did run into another group of the Yao Race and got into a fight."

"Another group?"

Wu Li asked.

"From the territory of the Yao Race to the north. The two sides met at the border. I don't know what for—perhaps competing for prey, or perhaps an old grudge—but they started fighting anyway."

"Dozens of small Yao died on each side. Horned Dragon's side lost one Second-tier, and the other side had similar losses."

Wu Li listened and gave a faint smile.

"Then there is no need to worry about them."

"Horned Dragon and E Kuang were already at odds. With Yao having died this time, their grudge has deepened. The fiercer they fight, the safer Qingfeng Ravine is. Keep watching, no need to intervene."

Black Feather nodded: "Understood."

Wu Li stood up and flicked the mud off his claws: "Alright, tell the little ones below to be sharp. Although Gray Rat has figured out the general layout of this mountain range, it might not be comprehensive."

"Before we are sure whether a Fourth-tier Yao King exists, you must not act rashly. Just cultivate honestly here."

Black Feather nodded: "We understand."

He flapped his wings and flew up, his figure flashing above the waterfall and disappearing into the shadows of the rock face.

Gray Rat also slipped back into the rock crack, taking his descendants to continue keeping watch.

Qingfeng Ravine quieted down, leaving only the sound of the waterfall, rushing with a splash.

...

Meanwhile, three hundred miles outside of Black Stone Ridge.

Inside a small Sect built against the mountain, the meeting hall was brightly lit with candles.

The hall was not large, and the furnishings were simple. In the center was an old wooden table, on which a hand-drawn map of the mountain range was spread out, the ink already somewhat blurred.

Two middle-aged Cultivators sat opposite each other on both sides of the wooden table, both at the Golden Core Early Stage, their faces weary, their brows knitted together.

The one on the left was clean-shaven and pale-faced, wearing a faded cyan Daoist robe, with a jade plaque hanging at his waist, engraved with the character "Xuan."

This person was Sect Master Zhou Xuanqing, the Sect Master of the Xuanqing Sect.

The Xuanqing Sect had been established for only a little over a hundred years, rooted for generations in Qingyun Town on the outskirts of Black Stone Ridge. With over a hundred Disciples under its banner, its business was to guard the region and protect the common people. It was not a major Sect, but it had great prestige in the surrounding towns.

The one on the right had dark skin, a square face, and a wide mouth, wearing a grayish-brown short jacket, revealing two thick arms. On his elbow was an old scar, as if left behind after being bitten by something.

This person was Zhao Luo, the Sect Leader of the Iron Mountain Sect.

The Iron Mountain Sect was even smaller than the Xuanqing Sect, with only fifty or sixty people, but the Disciples under its banner were mostly of hunter origin—thick-skinned and sturdy, skilled at tracking and fighting in the mountain forests.

On the table in front of the two men lay several secret letters; the edges of the letter paper were curled, and some were even stained with dried blood.

Sect Master Zhou Xuanqing raised his hand to rub his brow, his voice a bit hoarse.

"Over at Black Stone Ridge, Horned Dragon and E Kuang have been causing more and more trouble recently. Two Third-tier great Yao are fighting fiercely on the mountain, and the towns, villages, and small Sects at the foot of the mountain have all suffered."

"Last month, Sanliu Town was razed by a group of Yao. Of the more than ten thousand people in the town, not many escaped. This month, two more villages have been burned."