Chapter 69

“Then Clan Leader Liu, why not…make a deal with me?” Qu Panyan said with a smile.

Liu Yizhi gripped the ink-colored jade folding fan, glanced at her with interest, and asked casually, “Oh? What deal does Third Miss Qu want to make with me?” 

Qu Panyan replied, “Naturally, it will be a deal that benefits both the Liu and Qu families.” She paused for a moment and deepened the mysterious smile at the corner of her lips, “At least, it will be beneficial and harmless to the Liu family.”

Liu Yizhi looked interested, “Third Miss Qu, please elaborate.”

“Actually, Clan Leader Liu knows very well that you can’t control A Yiduo at all. She is hot-tempered and easily angered, and any slight carelessness will invite her resentment. There’s simply no one who can control her. Your alliance has been imbalanced from the beginning,” Qu Panyan went straight to the point, hitting the nail on the head.

Liu Yizhi just smiled slightly and didn’t respond.

Qu Panyan’s words indeed hit the mark. The best alliance is either a mutual balance and utilization, or complete dominance over the other party. In any case, it is necessary to ensure some constraints on the other party, rather than letting them do as they please, free from the constraints of the alliance, and capable of breaking it at any time.

A Yiduo is such an ally, and the maintenance of the alliance depends entirely on her mood.

Liu Yizhi had long known that the alliance between them was in name only. Thus, he hadn’t allowed his ally to kill Qu Panyan, but instead, he had intervened to protect her.

In Qu Panyan’s view, this was a perfect breakthrough.

A relationship without trust is like a floating duckweed in the wind, unstable and fragile.

Moreover, as the head of the Liu family, Liu Yizhi would naturally weigh the pros and cons, making the best choices.

Qu Panyan continued, “The Liu and Qu families don’t necessarily have to be enemies; forming an alliance could also be a good option. What does Clan Leader Liu think?”

She only needed the Liu family to step aside, and she didn’t even need their help. She just wanted to stay quiet and unbothered while obstructing A Yiduo’s fusion.

Hearing this, Liu Yizhi furrowed slightly as he asked, “What do you want to do?”

His intuition told him that Qu Panyan’s “deal” was far from simple.

“Very simple,” Qu Panyan smiled, “Let me go up, don’t stop me.”

Liu Yizhi vaguely guessed her intentions, and his frown deepened. Suddenly, he thought of Qu Muqiu and unconsciously said, “Although I don’t have the standing to advise you now, I still have to say, don’t do anything foolish. If something happens, your sister won’t be able to bear it.”

Qu Panyan shook her head, “Clan Leader Liu is mistaken. A Yiduo and I have long been enemies. Even if your Liu family doesn’t intervene today, once she becomes the Saintess, I won’t have it easy either.”

Qu Panyan understood that the Liu family invited A Yiduo to form an alliance for their own purpose of becoming stronger. Every family head had to consider their own interests, and they would use whatever was advantageous, rather than sparing out of kindness.

A Yiduo and she had long been enemies, and once A Yiduo became the Saintess, she would never spare her. The Qu family would inevitably shelter her, forcing her to be a thorn in A Yiduo’s side. This outcome would happen regardless of whether the Liu family intervened or not.

She lifted her eyes and said each word deliberately, “Let me go up, it’s better if Clan Leader Liu pretends not to know. If I die up there, I will never expose you to A Yiduo. If I don’t die, then Clan Leader Liu will undoubtedly gain a powerful and trustworthy ally. This deal is advantageous and without any drawbacks for your Liu family. So, do you want it or not?”

She looked towards the mountaintop and added, “If you do, please hurry up; I don’t have much time.”

Liu Yizhi’s eyes were dark and unclear. Indeed, the Liu family would benefit the most from this deal. But she…

Whatever, it was a deal without drawbacks; what more could he say?

Liu Yizhi waved away the guards in front with a faint smile. “Let’s not waste Third Miss Qu’s time anymore, please.”

The deal was reached, and Qu Panyan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. With the young cub on her shoulder and one of her hands holding Ling’er’s hand, she turned around and walked away.

“Third Miss Qu,” Liu Yizhi watched her retreating figure, “…Be careful.”

It was undoubtedly more difficult for Liu Yizhi to deal with an unreasonable A Yiduo and the Heavenly Fire as compared to leaving this matter to her.

Qu Panyan paused for a moment, without looking back, she continued to move steadily. Like a gust of wind, swiftly passing through the forest, she quickly reached A Yiduo’s fusion place, the Huangyuan Pool.

The Huangyuan Pool was surrounded by lush greenery, forming a circle around the calm and ripple-free water. They saw A Yiduo standing on the surface of the pool, the clear sky reflecting on the water, with soft white clouds gently floating on the surface, as if A Yiduo had shed her mortal body, standing on clouds and about to ascend to the Purple Mansion Realm.

On the other side, stood a majestic white tiger. The tiger was tall and imposing, standing about half the height of a person. Its whole body was covered with a shiny white fur, and between its brows was a translucent, sparkling red jade. Its eyes were like two blood-red rubies, and the tip of its tail burned with a pure white fire—a true Divine Beast.

In the next moment, the White Tiger Divine Beast lightly swept its tail on the surface of the pool, as if igniting a patch of dry grass. Flames burst forth on the water’s surface, spreading rapidly like a prairie fire, devouring the entire pool surface and enveloping the White Tiger Divine Beast and A Yiduo.

Qu Panyan’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned her head to look at Wu Yi and found that the Heavenly Fire was still calmly residing in the glass sphere. Instantly relieved, she wasted no time and summoned the Fire Bell Silk to attack the defensive formation they had set up for the fusion.

The situation was urgent, and breaking the formation was the priority. Even if she couldn’t break it, she had to disrupt A Yiduo’s fusion!

Ba Tu and Wu Yi stood on either side, apparently aware of Qu Panyan’s presence, but they showed no intention to stop her. Whether it was due to their excessive confidence in their formation or some other reason, she couldn’t tell…

The Fire Bell Silk violently collided with the protective barrier, making a loud clang. A Yiduo’s gaze flickered, and she turned her head to see Qu Panyan. Her expression instantly turned sinister, “You dare to come and seek death?”

Qu Panyan controlled the Fire Bell Silk and replied with a smile, “Didn’t I say I came to celebrate the birth of the Saintess? How could I miss such a scene?”

A Yiduo arrogantly raised her head, “Lowly people like you have no right to be here!”

The young cub on Qu Panyan’s shoulder also jumped down, and she noticed it extending its claws, as if trying to clean the glass, howling and scratching at the protective barrier, seemingly eager to get inside.

Qu Panyan pointed at it, saying, “Even the little black beast wants to go in for a visit. Can’t you pity it a little?”

A Yiduo looked at the dark mass with a trace of disgust flashed in her eyes, “Where did this ugly thing come from? Get lost!”

She turned back to look at the White Tiger Divine Beast and commanded sharply, “Hurry up! Don’t waste the time of this Saintess!”

In response, the White Tiger Divine Beast turned its blood-red eyes, then sat down lazily instead, leisurely lifting its paw to lick it.

A Yiduo clearly didn’t expect this reaction and got angry immediately. She pointed at the White Tiger Divine Beast, ready to scold it, but Ba Tu, who rarely spoke, interjected, “Lady A Yiduo, only the Saintess can scold the Divine Beast. I hope you can calm down a bit.”

A Yiduo turned around and glared at him, “Aren’t I the Saintess?!”

Wu Yi extended the glass sphere forward, watching the Heavenly Fire inside fly towards A Yiduo, and said leisurely, “You’re not one yet.”

“Please start the fusion and stop wasting time,” Wu Yi retracted the glass sphere.

“Boom—!”

A loud noise came from above, and everyone looked up to see a graceful and elegant young man floating in the air, wearing a jade lotus crown and holding a dusting brush. The front end of the handle of the brush suddenly extended, smashing fiercely against the protective barrier, attempting to create a crack.

Qu Panyan exclaimed in delight, “Second brother!” Qu Changye nodded to her and said, “Elder sister has already arrived at the foot of the mountain. I’m here to accompany you, don’t be afraid.” Then he continued to exert force, striking the protective barrier.

Meanwhile, Ling’er also acted. She placed both palms on the screen, gathering her spiritual energy in her hands, and released it all outward, trying her best to shatter the barrier. Her back and face were covered with brilliant azure dragon scales one after another, almost revealing her dragon form.

Seeing that the Heavenly Fire was about to merge into A Yiduo’s body, Qu Panyan and the other two unleashed all their spiritual power. Cracking sounds “ka-ka” and a loud “bang—” resounding in their ears, accompanied by flying translucent fragments. The defensive formation was completely shattered.

Ba Tu and Wu Yi finally made their move. Wu Yi tossed the glass sphere into the air, allowing it to float there. Both of them turned and extended their ten fingers, manifesting crimson fire swords out of thin air in their palms.

With dual fire swords in hand, they each went towards Qu Panyan and Qu Changye. Qu Changye’s dusting brush extended and moved gracefully, coordinating with his ethereal figure, engaging in a fierce batter in mid-air with Ba Tu.

Qu Panyan threw the Fire Bell Silk, and the Fire Bells collided with Wu Yi’s fire swords, producing a ringing sound as both sides were shaken back simultaneously.

Qu Panyan’s gaze passed over Wu Yi’s shoulder and saw the Heavenly Fire slowly descending from A Yiduo’s head, about to merge into her hair.

Wu Yi raised her swords and flew forward again. Qu Panyan gritted her teeth, spinning the Fire Bell Silk, brushing it against Wu Yi’s swords, and then aiming it at her face. Wu Yi instinctively turned her head to the side, and she heard a clang as the Fire Bell Silk brushed past her cheek—it collided with the floating glass sphere.

The Fire Bell Silk pushed the glass sphere with force, instantly propelling it away,  then perfectly covering the Heavenly Fire above A Yiduo’s head. It then flew out carrying the Heavenly Fire with it.

Wu Yi’s expression changed. She was about to turn back to retrieve the Heavenly Fire for A Yiduo when something hit her waist, and a gust of wind passed by her. The next moment, she found her entire body tied to a tree.

Ling’er, back in her dragon form, tightly bound her to the tree. Her dragon scales were radiant and beautiful—despite her ugly horn that was now bleeding.

Ling’er, however, didn’t pay attention to her own bleeding horn and urged, “Hurry, go and seize it!”

Ba Tu noticed the change down below, got distracted for a moment, and was caught off guard as Qu Changye used his dusting brush to tie him up.

Qu Changye’s mouth was bloodied, and he had multiple wounds on his body. Compared to Ba Tu, he was still lacking in power. If Ba Tu hadn’t been distracted, Qu Changye might not have been able to restrain him.

Someone like Ba Tu, Qu Changye would never let Qu Panyan face them alone—he had to protect his younger sister!

Seeing the Heavenly Fire being snatched away, the White Tiger Divine Beast remained indifferent. With both protectors trapped, A Yiduo was filled with anger and annoyance, and she had no choice but to chase after the Heavenly Fire herself.

Qu Panyan couldn’t afford to delay any longer. She manipulated the Fire Bell Silk to chase after the Heavenly Fire. The Fire Bell Silk closely followed the glass sphere and quickly bound it. Then it flew back into Qu Panyan’s hand.

A Yiduo had no choice but to turn back, extending her hand and glaring fiercely at Qu Panyan. “Give it back to me!”

Qu Panyan stepped back, hugging the glass sphere. The young cub suddenly jumped up and crouched on top of the sphere, baring its claws at A Yiduo while howling.

Before Qu Panyan could say anything, A Yiduo gathered her energy and focused her gaze on the glass sphere in Qu Panyan’s hand, trying to use her mind to control the Heavenly Fire to return to her.

Everything fell silent, and the Heavenly Fire remained still.

Both of them were stunned for a moment. Qu Panyan’s lips twitched, and an involuntary smile appeared—it seemed like there was hope!

However, in the next moment, A Yiduo successfully brought the Heavenly Fire back into her own hand.

Qu Panyan: “…”

The young cub hesitated for a moment, reluctantly jumped down from the glass sphere, and the Fire Bell Silk released its grip on the useless empty sphere. Qu Panyan coldly tossed it aside.

What the hell was this, fighting over nothing?!

A Yiduo’s laughter was wild and grating, and her eyes were filled with mockery as she looked at Qu Panyan. Suddenly, she remembered the day she was expelled from the Xianmeng Sect. An elder had spoken to her about the “punishment of the Heavenly Fire,” and a scornful smile deepened on her lips.

Ridiculous, the punishment of the Heavenly Fire?

She was the chosen one, a noble Saintess of the Heavenly Fire! How could the Heavenly Fire punish her?

The Heavenly Fire only punished those lowly and foolish people, like this dishwashing girl!

The Heavenly Fire continued to burn endlessly in her palm. She raised her chin proudly and looked at Qu Panyan with disdain. “Do you think someone as lowly as you deserves to snatch the Heavenly Fire from me?”

Wu Yi’s brows furrowed, and she reminded her once again, “Lady A Yiduo, please do it quickly—”

“Shut up!” A Yiduo snapped, “I, as the Saintess, will do whatever I want and fuse whenever I want! The Ancestor of Fire is destined to be mine, do you understand?!”

She turned her head with resentment and stared at Qu Panyan, walking towards her. “The punishment of the Heavenly Fire, is it?”

Qu Panyan remained motionless, calmly waiting for A Yiduo to come before her. A Yiduo then grabbed her neck, but she showed no sign of struggle on her face. Despite Qu Changye and Ling’er calling out to her, she pretended not to hear, slowly closing her eyes, as if she had lost all hope and was embracing death.

A Yiduo raised the Heavenly Fire in her palm with disgust. “Today, this Saintess will show you the punishment of the Heavenly Fire!”

Having said that, she mercilessly struck Qu Panyan with the Heavenly Fire.

Qu Changye frantically released Ba Tu but was restrained by him in return, rendering him unable to move, only able to watch Qu Panyan being engulfed and swallowed by the pure white flames.

Ba Tu held him down, his voice calm and steady. “Don’t struggle, just watch quietly.”

Qu Changye heard Qu Panyan’s miserable and painful screams in his ears, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart, leaving nothing but despair in his chest.

How could this happen?

How could this happen?!

“Yan’er—!”

The only response he received was Qu Panyan’s even more agonizing cries.

Qu Changye’s heart felt like it was turning into ashes.

He didn’t…protect his little sister…

He was truly a useless older brother…

…Yan’er was gone.

Ling’er dared not move or look. She felt so uncomfortable in her heart. Wu Yi was bound by her and didn’t struggle either. Her eyes were fixed on Qu Panyan, who had been burned into a fiery figure.

She thought, indeed, the Heavenly Fire must be scorching.

No one could endure it except the Holy Child.

The more Qu Panyan cried in pain, the happier A Yiduo became. Her mood now felt much more relieved, and the smile on her lips grew more malicious. “This is the punishment of the Heavenly Fire. Have you had enough?”

“When this Saintess has had enough, she will take it back.”

The pained cries suddenly stopped, as if the Heavenly Fire had deprived her of the final right to despair.

A Yiduo sneered, raised her hand, and with a thought, the Heavenly Fire burning on Qu Panyan obediently and willingly converged into a stream, slowly gathering in her palm.

Suddenly, a hand, covered with scorching flames, grabbed her wrist.

Qu Panyan’s face slowly rose behind the flames. Her skin was covered with hideous and terrifying cracks, but her face showed no signs of pain. Instead, she appeared eerily calm, sending shivers down people’s spines.

She stared fixedly at A Yiduo, and the white flames burned fiercely around her like a fierce demon reborn from the fires of hell. Slowly opening her mouth, her voice was hoarse and deep, uttering each word with emphasis, “This is…”

“The punishment of the Heavenly Fire.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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