Battle Through the Heavens: The Rock King Emperor's Leisurely Wanderings in the Mortal World

Chapter 29 Bone Spirit Cold Fire Sea Heart Flame Cloud Water Flame

"Mr. Zhongli, do you know what kind of strange fire this is?" Yao Chen asked eagerly, unable to hide his excitement.

However, upon further reflection, it doesn't matter which kind of strange fire it is, since we're only missing one.

Then, Yao Chen asked again, "Mr. Zhongli, where is that strange fire now?"

Xiao Yan had already heard the stories of all the strange fires on the Strange Fire Ranking, so his curiosity and anticipation for their wonder were self-evident.

"I don't know exactly which kind of strange fire it is. After all, my understanding of the aura of strange fires is far inferior to that of Mr. Yao Chen." After saying this, Zhong Li took out the complete map of the strange fire from the third treasure chest in the cave from the Lock of the Mortal World.

Upon seeing that it was a complete map, Yao Chen could no longer remain calm. Disregarding all etiquette, he snatched the map away.

Zhong Li didn't mind, after all, a rare treasure like a strange fire was something every cultivator dreamed of. Yao Chen eagerly spread out the map, and Xiao Yan quickly joined him.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, his eyes filled with doubt, and asked, "Master, this is just a slightly old treasure map. How did you determine that the treasure hidden inside is the Strange Flame?"

Yao Chen shook his head slightly, his finger slowly sliding along the route on the map, and explained softly, "It's not your fault. There's a strange connection between different flames; they can sense each other. Since you don't possess a different flame yet, it's natural that you can't feel this subtle connection."

"Hmph, what, you think you're so great just because you have a strange fire? I'll find my own strange fire sooner or later!" Xiao Yan pouted, making an exaggerated expression on his face, muttering to himself, but his eyes followed Yao Chen's finger as it moved across the map.

After a moment, Yao Chen exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly said, "This strange fire, amidst its intense heat, also faintly exudes a chilling aura, somewhat resembling my Bone Spirit Cold Fire. Moreover, the area surrounding this endpoint is a forest... I visited there when I traveled across the continent. This place belongs to the Izumo Empire and is a vast, boundless northern forest. It is covered in snow year-round, and flames usually prefer warm places. Even if a strange fire is powerful, it mostly acts according to instinct. Therefore, strange fires that can be born here are extremely rare."

"Teacher, you've analyzed so much, so which of the strange flames on the Strange Flame Ranking is hidden here?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly. Although he longed to learn about this subject, he wanted to know the exact answer more than anything else.

"Hmm... On the Strange Flame Ranking, Strange Flames that prefer cold environments are truly rare. Besides the Bone Spirit Cold Flame that I possess myself, there are two other Strange Flames that have this characteristic: the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Strange Flame Ranking, and the Fire Cloud Water Flame, ranked sixteenth. Both of these Strange Flames have the unique attribute of combining water and fire, and possessing both cold and hot properties."

"So, does that mean it's very likely that this contains one of the following: Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Sea Heart Flame, or Fire Cloud Water Flame?" Xiao Yan concluded with excitement in his eyes.

Yao Chen shook his head slightly, then slowly analyzed, "That's not the case. Although the aura emanating from this map also carries a trace of coldness, it's completely different from the aura contained in my Bone Spirit Cold Flame. As for the Sea Heart Flame, as the name suggests, it is usually born deep in the sea. However, this place is a vast forest, which is extremely far from the nearest sea. Therefore, this mysterious strange flame should be the Fire Cloud Water Flame, ranked sixteenth on the Strange Flame Ranking."

After Yao Chen finished speaking, he nodded slightly, as if he was quite certain of his deduction. He let out a long sigh, his expression revealing a high degree of confidence in his judgment.

However, in that instant, after listening to Yao Chen's analysis, Zhong Li took a small sip of tea and calmly reminded him, "Mr. Yao Chen, I'm afraid you've overlooked a crucial factor."

"Oh? What exactly is the factor?" Yao Chen hurriedly asked, his face showing no sign of being offended by the questioning.

Zhongli slowly put down his teacup and said calmly, "I was also inspired by your deduction just now. The so-called Fire Cloud Water Flame is just as its name suggests. This means that at its birth and during its cultivation, it is mostly hidden in the water clouds in the sky. If it really is Fire Cloud Water Flame, then the Northern Forest of the Izumo Empire is at most just providing an extremely demanding condition for the birth of this strange fire."

"What you're saying, esteemed guest, could it be that there's a fourth possibility for the strange fire in the far north forest of the Yunyun Empire?" Yao Chen frowned slightly, his tone tinged with doubt. He believed his research on the Strange Fire Ranking surpassed that of at least 95% of the people on the continent, yet, facing Zhong Li before him, he unusually became insecure.

Zhongli's calm and composed demeanor always shrouded Yao Chen in mystery.

Previously, when Yao Chen was explaining the Different Flame Ranking, Dou Qi knowledge, and alchemy knowledge to Xiao Yan in front of Zhong Li, Zhong Li simply sat quietly to the side, sipping tea. Occasionally, upon hearing certain points, he would let out a slight smile, but never offered any opinion. That smile was not mocking, but pure and simple, without any impurities.

Throughout, Zhongli was extremely sparing with his words. His first words were about the magical giant sword from the ancient ruins, and his next question was about a detailed map of the strange fire. This made Yao Chen have to pay close attention to every word Zhongli said.

However, in reality, Zhongli's understanding of this Dou Qi Continent at that time was almost zero, making it impossible for him to offer Xiao Yan any valuable advice. His faint smile was merely a mask for his inner embarrassment. But with the passage of time and the tempering of experience, the over six-thousand-year-old Zhongli had honed his acting skills to a level of unparalleled mastery. He could perfectly conceal his emotions, remaining completely unmoved by his feelings. Even a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of self-embarrassment, would go unnoticed by outsiders.

"Although I am not very talented, I have an extraordinary keen insight into the lightning attribute. And on this incomplete map, I can also detect a faint trace of the lightning attribute." Zhong Li spoke slowly, his voice filled with contemplation.

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "Thunder? In the Ranking of Strange Flames, it seems that only the Nine Dragons Thunderfire, ranked twelfth, possesses some lightning attribute, right?"

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However, upon hearing this, Zhong Li smiled and shook his head slightly, as if there was a deeper meaning hidden in his laughter.

……

P.S.: Please don't worry about the exact location of the Izumo Empire in the Dou Qi Continent. For now, just assume it's in the North. Thank you for your understanding.

(End of this chapter)