Chapter 177: Heavenly Fire Volcano
“Come.” Ye Wuchen smiled as he shook his head. He maneuvered his hand, and a huge bath tub appeared before their eyes. It was the bath tub Ning Xue normally used. He could not help but feel thankful for the generosity of Chu Cangming, who unexpectedly gave him such a great present without ever changing his mind. With the presence of the ring of the God of Sword, he could bring along his own house anytime and anywhere.
Inside it was quickly filling up with fresh water which Ye Wuchen had gathered from the rivers along the way. Ning Xue was unable to wait, she opened her arms wide, permitting him to carry her inside. When her body was immersed in the water, she let out a sweet sounding moan, her face exposed an expression of pleasure. She was so comfortable and relaxed as she paddled in the water.
“Wow… So comfortable. It was really really hot a while ago.” Ning Xue smiled happily. This time, Tong Xin took off her dress in the blink of an eye. Her speed was a multiple times faster than Ning Xue, before Ye Wuchen could stop her, she was already standing there with her body completely naked, and Ning Xue was smiling as she moved aside, giving Tong Xin enough space.
After Ye Wuchen had been tangled up with Yan Zhimeng a few days ago, he was already deprived and his power of resistance had substantially decreased. He would not dare to take a second look after seeing it once, so he quickly turned his face away, as the blood in his whole body rushed forth in an instant.
Falling into the water with a “plop,” Tong Xin immersed herself inside the bathtub, playing with Ning Xue as she splashed water on her. Ye Wuchen secretly heaved a sigh of relief, turned around again, looked at them laughing and playing.
Seeing Ning Xue being happy had unconsciously become one of his greatest enjoyments.
“Tong Xin, remember to protect Xue-er. Also, don’t let other people come in, understand?” Ye Wuchen said. This guest room had been reserved for exactly ten days.
The usually lovable Tong Xin did not nod her head immediately in response, but just doubtfully looked at him. Ning Xue immediately yelled the question on both their minds, “Brother, where are you going?”
Ye Wuchen did not try to hide it, with a relaxed face he said, “This place is nearest to the Heavenly Fire Volcano, I’ll be heading over there. I shall return once I get the thing that I need. It might take around two to three days. I might also be back by tomorrow.”
Tong Xin and Ning Xue were similarly worried. Ning Xue, with both hands, held onto the edge of the bath tub and anxiously said, “Brother, take me there, I want to go with you.”
“But that place is very very hot…”
“I’m not afraid of the heat, not even a little bit. I don’t want to be apart from brother for a very long time. You promised me that wherever you go, you will never leave me.” Ning Xue exerted all her efforts to shake her head, Tong Xin was also looking at him with a determined expression, not allowing him to go to such dangerous place all alone.
Although he had expected the outcome to be like this, Ye Wuchen still helplessly smiled, “Alright… There’s really nothing to be done with you two, but you must listen to every word that I say.”
Ning Xue exerted all her effort to nod her head, then immersed herself into the water once again. Reassured, she relaxingly enjoyed the cool and clear water and the smoothness of Tong Xin’s body.
For the sake of not letting Ning Xue feel the heat, Ye Wuchen waited until the afternoon sun was no longer that hot, he then took a meal with Ning Xue and Tong Xin, then headed out of the guest house. He did not even demand a refund of the money for the remaining nine days that he had originally reserved. The money, compared to the pile of silver Wang Wenshu had given him, was just a drop of water in the ocean, similar to nothing.
The sun had already set, but the heat coming from the Heavenly Fire Volcano still made it difficult for Ning Xue to bear. Having walked a short distance, beads of sweat once again rolled out from her forehead, but she did not yell out due to the heat, and just silently leaned against his chest.
Coming out of Yan Long City, the south sky reflected a widespread red light. Ye Wuchen and Tong Xin did not amble along, but increased their speed. With quick steps, they headed forward. Based on Ye Wuchen’s calculations, with their speed they would be able to reach the destination within an hour.
The faster they walked, the more the temperature continued to rise. People rarely set foot on the southern part of the Yan Long City, and without much time, Ning Xue was already dripping wet with warm sweat. She continuously extended hands to wipe off the sweat, but with gritted teeth she did not yell out from the heat in order for brother not to be worried.
A stream of water suddenly came down from up above, with the comfortable coolness it completely drenched her whole body. “Is it better now?” Ye Wuchen lowered his head and asked with concern. The temperature around here must be more than forty degrees, similar to being situated in the middle of the flaming hot desert.
“En, brother you shouldn’t worry about me, I’m really not scared of the heat.” Ning Xue nodded, then she shook her head again.
Ye Wuchen put a water sack in her hands, “Drink more water, don’t worry, we will arrive soon.”
After half an hour, they had walked past half the overall distance. This time, a very huge courtyard made up of fiery tiles and bricks appeared within their sight. Ye Wuchen was slightly astounded, why would there be someone who would set up a home in this place? But clearly seeing the sign with the words “Nan Gong” suspended on the dark red gate, he immediately understood why.
The Nangong influential family was regarded as one of the major magical martial families in Tian Long Nation. They were experts in the fire element enchantment. The magic of the Heavenly Star Continent was evidently different from the southern magic which Ye Wuchen used to know. To releasing magic in Heavenly Star Continent, one does not need to chant the spell and there was no need to make use of any mediums or link of any element. One solely needed power and time to control over the elements. Because of this, the cultivation of magic here did not need the rigid books of spells and one could freely control over the elements to transform them into some magical skills that was suitable to one’s own or magical skills that one liked. The higher the magical cultivation and the power of control, the more magnitude of the control would be and the time he needed to gather up the elements would also be shorter. In general, one could classify strength to as beginner level, intermediary level, and expert level of magic, with the most formidable powers were regarded as the forbidden magic.
Similarly, the greater the power, the elements required would be much higher, so gathering would take longer. But as long as one was given enough time, they could even bypass the ranks and defeat their opponents.
The Nangong Family was located in the extreme south in response to the word “Nan” [which means South by the way], in Nan Gong Palace. Only now did Ye Wuchen realize how close to the south the Nan people were. This place was closest to the Heavenly Fire Volcano, where the elements of fire were dense and active. Indeed it was a great place to practice the magical powers of fire.
Based on what he knew, Lin Yan who claimed to be “Tian Long Number One Wizard of Fire” also received training from Nangong. He stayed with the Nangong Family until he reached the age of more than forty. Only then, did he return home to Tian Long City. After more that fifty years of age, he had finally reached the Heaven-Level strength, which he had longed for. Although he was regarded as number one in the fire element, Ye Wuchen believed that there must be some other higher level experts among the usually low-profile Nangong Family who had powers that were certainly greater than his.
Ye Wuchen did not stop, he bypassed the Nangong residence as he continued ahead. When the water on Ning Xue’s body had dried up, he would regularly pour some more down on her, not allowing her to suffer from pain.
They walked for almost ten minutes when the scorching heat in the air made their vision become slightly distorted. Ning Xue started to pant hoarsely and the air she breathed out onto Ye Wuchen’s face rolled with heat.
“Xue-er, bear with it a little bit more, just a little bit more we shall reach the place. That time, brother will have the means to make you not to feel the heat.” While Ye Wuchen was talking, he drew out some water from the ring of the God of Sword and poured it on her body.
Ning Xue nodded and leaned closer to him.
Broken rocks scattered in the area that was incomparably desolate. One could not see the existence of any vegetation, but occasionally they could see traces of trample marks made by passers-by. Sometimes they would carelessly step on some broken rocks, which, upon colliding with them, made sparks.
The sky above their head was no longer blue, instead it was a bright red color that had completely hidden the blue. Within their sight in the far distance was a not so high mountain peak standing erect. The entire mountain was red through and through, just like it aflame. Even the surrounding area of the mountain peak and the sky above was shining red. This area was still several kilometers from the Heavenly Fire Volcano, yet it had caused the blistering hot temperature within the perimeter of a few kilometers away up to their current spot. Even if one was situated in the most active volcano of this world, it was still completely incomparable to this one.
The hottest place in the Heavenly Star Continent was truly like a purgatory of lava which one would have trouble approaching.
This place that was difficult to enter, but before Ye Wuchen’s eyes, a figure had emerged and was slowly approaching him. Getting a clear view of this person’s appearance, Ye Wuchen was startled, and when the person saw the three of them, he was similarly startled.
“Who are all of you?”
The young man was around twenty years of age, with extraordinary personality. His eyes swept across Tong Xin and Ning Xue at first, as his face revealed expressions of being stunned and astonished at the same time. When he looked at Ye Wuchen, he was greatly distracted, then somehow unable to believe himself, he swayed his head, “You are… Is your family name Ye?”
“Brother Nangong, I am Ye Wuchen.” Ye Wuchen stopped walking and answered with a smile. This person was the fire wizard Nangong Zhen who was defeated by Leng Ya during the competition. Ye Wuchen had paid attention to this person before and had a deep impression of this person.
Nangong Zhen, having heard of these words, was full of excitement, but immediately he covered up his expression and enthusiastically said, “Indeed you really are Master Ye from the Tian Long City. It’s really nice to meet you. That day in Tian Long City, I had personally witnessed Master Ye’s elegant manner and almost thought you were some heavenly being. I didn’t expect that I could meet you here… Oh? How did you know that my family name is Nangong?”
“That day, I remembered brother Nangong’s elegant talent clearly. I truly couldn’t easily forget such an outstanding person.”
Nangong Zhen candidly laughed, “Master Ye you overpraise me. My negligible magical skills are unfit for your discerning eyes. Actually… Why did you come here? And moreover you’ve also…” He used his eyes to hint at Ning Xue and Tong Xin. He truly could not understand the reason for bringing two children to this place.
Ye Wuchen directly answered, “We’ve prepared to got to the Heavenly Fire Volcano.”
“Heavenly Fire Volcano?” Nangong Zhen was surprised and advised against it, “You shouldn’t go to that place. Not even uphill, ordinary people could rarely even reach the foot of the volcano. If you step on the volcano, there’s a possibility that you will be transformed into ashes in an instant, Master Ye you must not go there!”
Even within his Nangong Family, only a few grandfathers were able to reach the top of the volcano. Approaching the center of the volcano was evidently impossible. And based on what he knew, although Ye Wuchen’s powers were great, he definitely had not reached Spirit-Level, so he was only good enough to able to stay on the foot of the volcano for a short moment.
But immediately, a surprising discovery made him inwardly astonished.
Although the place in here was still far away from the Heavenly Fire Volcano, the temperature had already reached the bottom line wherein the ordinary people would be able to bear. In this temperature, ordinary people would already be perspiring profusely, dizzy, powerless, and even have difficulty in breathing. Nangong Zhen, who had an intimate connection with the element of fire, felt slightly suffocated and his body was drenched in sweat. But aside from the white haired girl, Ye Wuchen and the young girl with black dress seemed not to feel any discomfort, their facial colors were ordinary and their body did not have a single drop of sweat.
How can he not be surprised by that?
Translated by:
Fatty_Uncle
Edited by:
seriouspotato patrick_father_of_dragons