Chapter 786: Fire as a Mirror

What kind of fire is this? Even someone as mentally resilient as Shi Hao was momentarily stunned.

It was utterly bizarre—the flames were serene, shifting continuously before him. Within the fire, symbols formed like cast metal, gleaming with a tangible luster.

“It’s happening again!” Shi Hao’s pupils sharpened like blades as he stared intently.

Each transformation grew clearer, more vivid, even exuding a breath of life.

This time, the flames coalesced into a tree—its trunk twisting like a dragon ascending to the heavens, its branches drooping like divine chains of order, rustling and clinking.

“Even more like it… Willow God!”

Then came the Thunder Emperor’s technique—lightning densely woven, condensing into a humanoid figure standing proudly beneath the heavens, enacting an eternal, undying art, profoundly mysterious.

“So this is how it’s done!”

Shi Hao’s heart trembled violently. The fire wasn’t demonstrating specific techniques but rather interpreting them, then revealing a transcendent artistic conception that deeply moved him.

It was like a mirror, reflecting supreme laws!

In an instant, Shi Hao glimpsed his own shortcomings. Staring at the “reflections” of laws and principles within the fire, he spotted flaws in his own path.

“Using fire as a mirror,” Shi Hao murmured, his gaze blazing.

He calmed his mind, observing the laws and principles, watching the fire’s repeated demonstrations, reflecting upon himself, and identifying the weaknesses in his own dao.

“If I continue like this, even if I’m not the Thunder Emperor or the Kun Peng, perhaps one day I can unleash the same pinnacle combat prowess they once did?”

Any treasure technique is strongest when wielded by its creator, for it is perfectly suited to them. Later generations can rarely achieve such harmony.

A fierce gale swept past as the underground world trembled—Qi Daolin had returned. Not only was he executing the Eight-Nine Heavenly Arts, but he was also spinning a dharma wheel as he descended upon the scene.

An indescribable scorching heat assaulted them, searing flesh and soul alike, threatening to reduce them to ashes.

The area blazed with brilliance. Shi Hao’s eyes burned, his divine sense slashed as if by a heavenly blade. He nearly fainted, feeling as though he had plunged into the most brutal purgatory in history.

“This is bad!” he cried out. The fire was erupting, unleashing its might—he might perish here.

Yet, the expected eternal darkness and void never came. He remained alive, standing in place. The fire had vanished. Stretching his arms, he found himself unharmed.

“Incredible. That fire could have incinerated even supreme taboo figures,” Qi Daolin muttered, his expression complex and uncertain as he searched the area.

When calm, the fire was gentle and sacred, like an ancient lamp illuminating the heavens, observing the Great Dao. But once unleashed, it was terrifying beyond measure.

Qi Daolin realized that even the Heaven Man in his prime would likely have met his end here. The fire, composed of symbols, was too eerie.

“Where did it go?” Qi Daolin asked.

Shi Hao shook his head. The earlier radiance had been so blinding he thought he’d be reduced to dust. He couldn’t discern where the mysterious flames had flown.

Qi Daolin frowned. His divine senses were unparalleled, yet he had lost track of the fire’s aura in an instant—as if it had vanished into thin air.

It was bizarre, as though the fire had expanded to its limit and then evaporated from existence.

“Could it have entered your body?” Qi Daolin wondered, grabbing Shi Hao’s arm to inspect. Yet, he found no trace.

Shi Hao searched inwardly but sensed nothing.

“Strange. Where did it go?” The master and disciple searched in vain.

“Could it have entered the bronze coffin?” Shi Hao suggested.

“Impossible. I was right here,” Qi Daolin said, shaking his head. He had stood between the coffin and the fire—it couldn’t have approached the nine dragon bones or the ancient coffin.

After scouring the underground world, they found nothing.

“Wait—it moved!” Shi Hao exclaimed as the bronze coffin trembled. The nine dragon bones glowed, misty radiance spreading as an astonishing ripple of power surged forth.

Then, space blurred and collapsed, the area twisting violently.

“It’s departing!” Qi Daolin’s eyes flashed like lightning, but he didn’t move.

This process was perilous. His own master had once pursued the distant Three-Life Bronze Coffin and suffered fatal injuries.

“Boom!”

Space shattered like a golden sun exploding. The nine dragon bones and the Three-Life Bronze Coffin vanished in an instant.

“Ten immortal rays have emerged. Who knows what will happen now? I must return and monitor the Upper Realm’s changes closely in the coming days,” Qi Daolin said gravely.

The consequences of this event were unpredictable—whether good or ill remained uncertain.

Before leaving, Qi Daolin inspected Shi Hao once more, confirming the fire was truly gone. “If necessary, we’ll seize the Great Scarlet Heaven Fire,” he said.

That ancient flame was legendary. According to excavated ruins, the Great Scarlet Heaven Lord of old had once dominated the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with its terrifying power.

“No need,” Shi Hao refused. He didn’t want to walk another’s path, nor did he wish Qi Daolin to take such risks—especially since the flame was a bargaining chip between the Celestial Immortal Academy and the Divine Cliff Eye.

With a flash of light, they left the underground and returned to their quiet mountain gate.

Over the next two days, Qi Daolin observed the heavens, frequently vanishing to investigate anomalies across the Upper Realm. He was tense—the ten immortal rays had shot into the desolate wilderness. Such an event couldn’t be meaningless.

“Hahaha!”

Laughter echoed as another visitor arrived at the mountain gate during Qi Daolin’s absence.

Shi Hao rushed out in delight—it was Er Meng, the bald peacock Kong Qiuji.

Of course, the peacock was no longer bald. His five-colored plumage shimmered like immortal metal, dazzlingly radiant.

“You’re here!” Shi Hao had missed those from the Lower Realm. Few familiar faces had ascended.

“With the commotion you’ve caused, how could I not know? Shattering the myth of destiny, bisecting You Yu—it’s all the rage among the younger disciples of the great sects!”

Er Meng, now clad in a five-colored feathered robe, looked more youthful and refined than ever—like a noble scion.

“Come, let’s drink until we drop!”

Reunited, they had much to discuss. Shi Hao wanted news of the Upper Realm; Er Meng sought updates on the Lower Realm. They chattered like magpies.

Soon, Shi Hao sensed powerful auras outside the gate—hundreds of divine senses probing the area.

“Who are they?” Shi Hao frowned.

“Clan elites, naturally. Slaying You Yu stirred a storm. Now that ‘Huang’ is known to be here, many want a look. You’re famous,” Er Meng said with a sly grin. “Including beauties from various clans.”

“Any peacock beauties?”

“Scram! That’s my backyard! Dare to covet them, and I’ll report you to the clan leader!”

They bantered while the outside world grew restless.

Soon, a chubby, unassuming boy arrived at the gate—round-faced, with crystal-clear eyes, appearing utterly innocent.

“Whose kid is this? Looks naive enough to get sold without knowing,” Er Meng chuckled.

Shi Hao smirked. “He’d probably sell you first.”

This was no innocent—Cao Yuzhen, the black-hearted schemer who had slaughtered prodigies in the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm while maintaining a harmless facade.

“Join us for a drink,” Shi Hao called.

“Is this fatty strong?” Er Meng eyed him suspiciously.

The boy smiled shyly. “I’m just a little Venerable One, not even grown yet.”

“Cut the act. With the Upper Realm’s third killing array engraved in your body, you can slaughter prodigies with chaos Sword Qi. Stop pretending!” Shi Hao exposed him—this fatty had even tricked him and the Fifteenth Master.

Er Meng’s eyes bulged. “The third killing array? Even my clan doesn’t have that! This fatty must be one of those hidden freaks!”

“Exactly. He’s a monster, always mumbling about finding the second killing array to carve into his flesh,” a snow-white rabbit the size of a palm piped up, chewing on a medicinal herb.

Shi Hao’s eyes flared. “Rabbit! You stole my quasi-saint herb!”

He chased the thief. His sacred herb garden had been raided—this rabbit had munched through his prized quasi-saint herb like a carrot.

Er Meng was equally stunned. A quasi-saint herb!

The rabbit shrieked, “You stole a saint herb from me in the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm! So stingy!”

This was the Lunar Jade Rabbit, self-proclaimed sister of her clan’s young supreme but suspected to be the real deal.

Shi Hao relented—they had fought side by side in the secret realm.

The rabbit transformed into a doll-like girl with gemstone-red eyes, leaving Er Meng dumbstruck.

They feasted on roasted beasts and wine—though the rabbit claimed to be vegetarian while ravaging Shi Hao’s herb garden.

After a few cups, the “vegetarian” rabbit drunkenly snatched Grilled meat, grease dripping from her lips.

Er Meng, feigning friendliness, offered her wine—only to be kicked into the clouds.

“Damn! This rabbit hits like a truck!” he groaned.

Cao Yuzhen nodded sympathetically. “She kicks Golden-Winged Great Pengs for fun. Their patriarch complained to her clan leader.”

“I only visit for a few months yearly—waiting by the mountain,” the girl corrected.

“Freaks, the lot of you,” Er Meng muttered.

“Your fame’s a double-edged sword. With Qi Daolin inviting all Venerable One和 Realm of Divine Flames to challenge you, many are itching to try,” Cao Yuzhen warned.

“Who’d dare?”

“There are always Ruthless One. Some might bring supreme artifacts, even Realm of Divine Flames prodigies.”

Shi Hao paled. Few prodigies reached Realm of Divine Flames—most suppressed their cultivation for the The Great War of the Three Thousand States’s grand opportunity.

“Shameless,” Er Meng spat.

“No matter. Once the Rivers converge into the sea. begins, I’ll return at Celestial Realm,” Shi Hao said confidently.

“Be careful. A Ruthless One might come.”

“Oh?”

“The Immortal Palace’s heir is here—along with the The Saintess of the Heaven-Mending Sect,” Cao Yuzhen whispered.

Shi Hao turned. “You’re well-informed.”

“I saw them. Many have gathered at the Celestial Immortal Academy lately, too afraid of Qi Daolin to come here. The heir and Saintess seem interested in a girl named Qing Yi.”

“You know too much,” Shi Hao said warily—had this fatty uncovered Yue Chan’s Primary and Secondary Bodies secret?

“I heard the heir plans to take one of the academy’s female disciples,” Er Meng added.

” Looking for death!” Shi Hao shot up. Now he knew why Qing Yi had vanished—cornered at the academy.

“Wait—you’re going to kill the heir?” The rabbit bounced excitedly.

“To the Celestial Immortal Academy!” Shi Hao declared, soaring into the sky.