Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 478 Unexpected
The reason Song Xian didn't use the crimson lantern at first was to test whether the other party's golden flame was truly the Crimson Sun Golden Flame. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, which shattered his previous preconceived notions.

Once he unleashes the Golden Crow and absorbs it with the Crimson Lantern, he must first retract his own strange fire.

Because this crimson lantern cannot distinguish between friend and foe, it will automatically absorb any strange fire on the field, prioritizing those closest to it, and it can only absorb one type at a time.

If he had taken out the crimson lantern and infused it with spiritual power, what would have been absorbed would have been the crimson golden flames he released.

Aside from the Crimson Lantern, he really didn't have a better way to absorb other people's strange fire. Although the Profound Heaven Fusion Fire Technique could also absorb and refine it, he needed to devote himself to it wholeheartedly during that time, and someone had to protect him.

"We have no enmity with you, so why fight to the death? Since you need this Yin Meridian, we will give it to you for now."

After the two sides stopped fighting, the leading man's attitude changed completely. He stopped mentioning the rules of the Demon Hunting Alliance and, without even asking the old man, directly made the decision for him, handing over the Yin Vein.

The old man was naturally unwilling, and was about to speak when the burly man turned his head and glared at him fiercely. The old man immediately deflated and swallowed the words he wanted to say.

"In that case, please leave, everyone. I will not entertain you any further."

Song Xian remained expressionless, showing no surprise, and simply replied with a curt remark.

He had already demonstrated his strength. If the roles were reversed and he were in the position of the burly man, he would not fight to the death with a powerful cultivator of unfathomable strength for someone else's cultivation cave. Giving it up would undoubtedly be the most rational thing to do.

Although he wanted the opponent's Crimson Sun Golden Flame, he wasn't in a hurry. There were four of them, and it wouldn't be easy for him to calmly absorb their strange fire. It would be safer to pretend nothing had happened and wait until they were alone before making his move.

"Farewell." The burly man said no more, cupped his hands in greeting, and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the distance.

The two men and women followed closely behind him and disappeared into the distance. Only the old man was still somewhat unwilling, but seeing that the three had left, he dared not linger, fearing that he would be attacked if he were left alone. He could only reluctantly follow them away.

“Fellow Daoist Thor, are we just going to let this go? That person didn’t take our Demon Hunting Alliance seriously at all. If we don’t get revenge, what prestige will we have left, and how will we govern the alliance?” The old man said with a look of resentment after catching up with the three of them.

"This person's strength is unfathomable. Even if the four of us join forces, we are not guaranteed victory. If it really comes down to a fight to the death, even if we manage to kill him, one or two of us may be killed. It would be better to give him that Yin Meridian first and then make further plans."

The burly man's eyes flickered, and he responded casually.

"However, there are still many cultivation materials that I have collected in that cave."

"I'll find another helper later to talk to him. Didn't he say he only borrowed it for a short time? We can make him return the cave dwelling when the time comes. At least I will do my best to get back the things in the cave dwelling for you."

Hearing this, the old man didn't say anything more. Although he was raising the alliance flag and asking for their help, he couldn't really expect the other members of the alliance to risk their lives for his cultivation. He had already done more than enough.

Song Xian returned to his cave and continued to absorb Yin energy with the gourd. The gourd, which was only the size of a palm, seemed to have a bottomless pit, continuously drawing Yin energy from the Yin meridians. Several days passed, and the gourd still showed no signs of being 'full'.

At this moment, Song Xian sensed two more Foundation Establishment cultivators outside. One of them was the burly man who had previously possessed the Crimson Sun Golden Flame, while the other was not one of the three cultivators from a few days ago, but a Foundation Establishment level ten cultivator.

He was somewhat surprised and suspicious, wondering what the other party wanted to do again, and why they had brought a strange cultivator at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment. If they wanted to return to this cave, they shouldn't have left the old man behind.

He put away the gourd, left the cave, and came to the outside of the cave dwelling. There he saw the burly man leading an old man with a hunched back standing outside.

While he was sizing up the other person, the other person was also sizing him up.

The group exchanged glances, but Song Xian didn't sense any hostility. Instead, he saw a sense of curiosity in the hunched old man's eyes.

"Fellow Daoist, have you come here again for the sake of this Yin Vein Cave?"

"No." The burly man was very polite, bowing and saying, "I have other important matters to discuss with you, fellow Daoist. This is not the place to talk. May we go to the cave to discuss this in detail?"

Seeing that the two seemed to have come prepared, Song Xian was curious about what they wanted to do, so he invited them into the inner room.

"What brings you two fellow Daoists here? Now you can tell us!" After the three of them sat down, Song Xian asked.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Thor Anmison, and this is…” The burly man was about to speak when the hunched old man interrupted him, “Just call me Taylor.”

"We have come here to invite you, fellow Daoist, to join us in exploring for treasure."

Song Xian remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was wary and suspicious. Since the two sides had no kinship and even some friction, why would they, contrary to their usual behavior, invite him to go treasure hunting together?

Something unusual must be amiss, and Song Xian didn't believe in the possibility of a windfall.

These independent cultivators, in particular, are always cautious in their actions and always keep the benefits to themselves. Even if they are not capable of treasure hunting, they generally will not seek out unfamiliar cultivators.

Their sudden and unsolicited invitation seemed like a trap.

“Fellow Daoist, you may be wondering why we suddenly asked you to go treasure hunting with us.” The burly man named Sol Anmison seemed to sense his thoughts and took the initiative to explain before he could answer.

"There's a reason for that. The secret realm we're heading to is guarded by a powerful restriction, and to break through that restriction, we need fire-attribute power. So we've been looking for cultivators who have mastered fire-attribute secret techniques. I saw you use the Golden Crow Flame earlier, so I came to you without warning and invited you to come with me."

Song Xian's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't because they were going to that so-called secret realm to search for treasure, but because they needed powerful fire-attribute power to break through the restrictions. If this was true, it meant that the people they had gathered were all cultivators who practiced fire-attribute secret techniques, and there was no chance that some of them possessed a different kind of fire.

No wonder when the two fought before, as soon as he unleashed the Crimson Sun Golden Flame, his opponent immediately ordered them to stop. If that was the reason, it makes sense.

On the other hand, he also noticed that Thor used the term "Golden Crow Flame" when referring to the Crimson Sun Golden Flame.

This is the same name he used for the Crimson Sun Golden Flame when he didn't have the Book of Different Flames.

Because the Crimson Sun Golden Flame is shaped like a golden crow, it is natural to call it the Golden Crow Blazing Flame.

From this title, we can infer that Thor doesn't know much about the strange fire.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that this person is cunning and deliberately used this title to avoid revealing his true intentions, since he already knows that he also possesses this strange fire.

"I see." Song Xian nodded. "There's something I was just about to ask Fellow Daoist Sol."

"I dare not accept such praise. Please speak, fellow Daoist. I will answer all your questions to the best of my knowledge."

“A few days ago, I saw you use the Golden Crow Flame, which was exactly the same as the Golden Crow Flame I obtained. May I ask you, Fellow Daoist Sol, where did you get this Golden Crow Flame?” Song Xian asked casually, with a curious expression.

"I obtained this Golden Crow Flame during a treasure hunt. It was sealed in a specially made golden scroll. As long as spiritual energy flows in, it can be released." Thor's expression was calm as he looked him over, making no attempt to hide the doubt and curiosity in his eyes.

“Actually, I have the same question. I don’t know how you obtained the Golden Crow Flame. Since I obtained this flame, I have never met anyone who possesses it. I thought that I was the only one who possessed this flame. I never thought that you also possessed this flame. Moreover, your Golden Crow Flame is generated within your body, unlike mine which is driven by a special scroll. Could it be that this flame is a divine power you have cultivated?” “To be honest, I obtained this flame during a treasure hunt. It is not a divine power that I have cultivated. As for why I was able to absorb it into my body, I cannot tell you.”

Song Xian couldn't think of a good excuse to explain the matter. If he didn't explain it well, the other party would see through his lie, and it would only make things worse. So he simply decided not to explain.

In the spiritual community, personal privacy is a very taboo subject. Of course you can talk about it, but if you don't, no one is going to keep asking you.

Thor didn't press the matter further: "Would you be willing to join us on this treasure hunt?"

Song Xian did not answer directly, but looked at the hunched old man beside him. He had not spoken a word while the two were talking, as if he were an indifferent bystander.

"This Fellow Daoist Taylor must also be one of our companions? According to Fellow Daoist Thor, Fellow Daoist Taylor should also possess some kind of powerful fire-attribute divine ability. I wonder if he, like us, also possesses the Golden Crow Flame."

The hunchbacked old man named Taylor smiled slightly, his voice old and hoarse: "I don't have the good fortune of you two fellow Daoists to obtain that Golden Crow Flame. Although I have a fire attribute spiritual root, I haven't cultivated any fire attribute secret techniques, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help in breaking that restriction."

Thor continued, "Fellow Daoist Taylor was the initiator of this operation. He was the one who discovered the restriction, and he also informed me about it. Since we are looking for cultivators who have mastered powerful fire-attribute secret techniques, I happened to see you using the Golden Crow Flame a few days ago, so I recommended you to him."

After he finished speaking, Taylor asked again, "May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?"

"My name is Su Xian, a rogue cultivator from Pingyuan County, Xishu Prefecture," Song Xian casually made up an identity.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Su, would you be willing to join us on this treasure hunt?"

"Before answering, I have a few questions I want to know before I can make a decision."

"If you have any questions, Fellow Daoist Su, please feel free to speak frankly."

"How many people does Fellow Daoist Taylor need? And how many have you found?"

"To break through that restriction, we need at least three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who have mastered powerful fire-attribute secret techniques. If Fellow Daoist Su is willing to join, we only need to find one more person."

Upon hearing this, Song Xian couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He had thought that the other party had already found a cultivator who also possessed a different kind of fire, but it turned out that there was only one so far.

Therefore, it seems that Taylor discovered the restriction not long ago, otherwise he wouldn't have only found one companion so far. But then again, strange fire is an extremely rare thing, and in the vast sea of ​​people, it is not so easy to find an owner.

"Fellow Daoist, do you know the origin of that restriction?"

"I discovered it by accident and do not know its origin, but I suspect there must be a great treasure inside, otherwise there would be no need to set up such a special restriction."

"If there really is treasure, how should it be distributed?"

Before Taylor could answer, Thor chimed in, "Whatever treasures are inside, everything will be divided equally. However, as the discoverer of the restriction and the organizer of the team, Fellow Daoist Taylor should receive double. That is to say, Fellow Daoist Taylor will take forty percent of the treasures, and we will each take twenty percent."

Song Xian remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Taylor added, "We already have someone in mind. As long as Fellow Daoist Su agrees, it shouldn't be long before we can gather the right people."

"Could the person Fellow Daoist Taylor is referring to also be the possessor of the Golden Crow Flame?"

"No, but as far as I know, this person also possesses powerful fire-attribute secret techniques. However, his whereabouts are unpredictable, and I haven't been able to find him yet. Nevertheless, I have already left a message for him through the communication channels."

“If that’s the case, then alright! I agree.” Song Xian stopped pretending to hesitate and finally agreed.

"Although I have already heard about it from Fellow Daoist Thor, I still want to see you unleash the Golden Crow Flame with my own eyes, which is one of the reasons I came. If Fellow Daoist Su doesn't mind, please release the flame so that I can witness it, so that everyone can have a better understanding."

Song Xian readily agreed and immediately unleashed the Mysterious Heavenly Fusion Fire Technique, releasing the Crimson Sun Golden Flame.

After seeing it, Taylor nodded in satisfaction, and then the two discussed some details.

For example, what if the last person doesn't reply to the message for a long time? He can't stay here forever, so how will we contact him then?

For example, what if the person is contacted but unwilling to go?

After everything was settled, Song Xian saw the two off from the cave and watched them leave. He then returned to the cave and sat down to ponder.

Even now, he doesn't completely believe what the two said is true; he remains skeptical.

The timing of this event was too coincidental. He had recently clashed and fought with the other party, unleashing the Crimson Sun Golden Flame in front of them, and coincidentally, the other party needed a cultivator with powerful fire-attribute spells to break the restriction.

This possibility does exist, but the probability is very small.

Although there were no flaws in their words, the matter itself was highly suspicious.

If the other party had ulterior motives and wanted to harm or frame him, then this explanation would make perfect sense.

But he had only met these two strangers by chance, so why were they doing this?
To save face? Or for the crimson golden flames emanating from his body?

There doesn't seem to be a very good reason.

He had merely occupied a Yin Vein Cave, promising to return it soon. Moreover, the cave did not belong to them, so there was absolutely no need for them to make a mortal enemy of a powerful cultivator over this matter.

If it were for the Crimson Sun Golden Flame, that would be understandable. But since Sol Anmison already possesses this strange flame, is it really necessary for him to take this risk for it?

Unless Taylor wanted this strange fire, and Thor was close to him and wanted to save face for the loss of his cave, the two sides hit it off immediately.

Regardless, he wouldn't miss this opportunity. If it's true, there's a high chance he'll encounter a different kind of fire during this treasure hunt.

First of all, the last cultivator Taylor found was very likely to be a cultivator who possessed a strange fire. Although Taylor said that the other party cultivated a powerful fire attribute secret technique, he might not recognize the strange fire, so he did not know what it was.

Secondly, there might be a strange fire inside that restriction, since the restriction itself is very strange and can only be broken with fire-attribute magic. The only thing Song Xian could think of was that there might be something related to the strange fire inside.

With his strength, even if it's a trap, he can handle it with ease as long as no Golden Core cultivator is involved; that's his confidence.

If the other party could find a Golden Core cultivator to help them, there would be no need for such a big fuss; they could just come directly to their door.

(End of this chapter)