Chapter Sixty: The Flame Fan

In the world of martial arts, they had reached the pinnacle of their abilities, unable to find any further path forward. Within the martial realm, they were revered figures, yet when the calamity of the demons arrived, they were reduced to mere foot soldiers, at best commanding a handful of others—the true protagonists were those masters with false elixirs.

They longed to contribute to the martial world; they did not fear death, but rather feared that their importance was less than they imagined. They wished to shed their blood for the realm, to lay down their lives, and even if they were to fall on the battlefield against the demons, they would have no complaints. Yet, they knew well in their hearts that with their current strength, they were but soldiers in the war against the demons.

Every martial artist who grew up in this era harbored the desire to do their part for the realm, even if it was but a small effort. As long as they gave their all, their hearts were satisfied—even death would be worthwhile. It was much like the people of the Flower Nation on Earth’s Blue Star, facing the invasion of the devils: who, living in that age, did not wish to serve their country? They were neither noble nor lofty—they simply did not want to lose their home.

If possible, let me use my greatest strength to contribute to this home!

This was the thought in the hearts of all martial artists.

...

“Forgive me!” The man in purple lowered his head, his expression hidden. His hand holding the folding fan suddenly moved with force, fanning toward Zhou Yi.

Boom!

The air split apart, and an invisible power, as heavy as a mountain, rushed through the torn air and struck Zhou Yi before he could react.

Boom!

Buzz!

In an instant, Zhou Yi felt his body flush with heat, a roar sounded in his ears, and with a buzz, the world before his eyes turned completely red.

“Yi!” Beside him, Song Hai narrowed his eyes, watching Zhou Yi as red flames suddenly erupted from his body, enveloping him wholly and burning fiercely, distorting the air above him. Song Hai cried out in concern.

Hiss! Hiss!

---

The temperature of the flames was extremely high; in the instant they appeared, Zhou Yi’s clothes were reduced to ashes. If not for the flames wrapping him tightly, he would have been naked.

Hiss! The fire scorched his skin, sending waves of intense pain deep into his bones and flesh. Zhou Yi’s face twisted briefly before quickly regaining its composure. Compared to the pain he’d endured before, this was nothing.

“Hm?” Though the pain was insignificant to Zhou Yi, he frowned. It wasn’t the pain itself, but the nature of these flames—they were unlike ordinary fire, and had not ceased since their emergence.

All things require energy to function, and the flames burning on Zhou Yi drew their fuel from his own internal power, growing fiercer as they consumed it. In other words, these flames not only burned him and damaged his body, but also fed on his internal energy, causing their temperature to rise steadily.

“Rest in peace!” The man in purple, holding the fan, appeared somewhat weakened. Relying on all his cultivation, he activated the Fire Fan, fanning it at Zhou Yi and creating internal flames upon him.

His name was Xue Kai, the foremost disciple of Hills and Valleys Manor. The folding fan in his hand was the ancestral treasure of his sect, the Fire Fan.

The Fire Fan, the guardian treasure of Hills and Valleys Manor, differed from Mingzhen’s Bodhi Banner, which was but a fragment of the true artifact. Xue Kai’s Fire Fan was the real thing.

Originally, as the manor’s guardian treasure, the Fire Fan was not allowed to leave the premises, but due to the gravity of this mission, and to guard against unforeseen circumstances, Xue Kai had brought it along.

It was meant to be used in the struggle for the ultimate goal, not against Zhou Yi. At this moment, Xue Kai felt immensely grateful that he had brought the Fire Fan; otherwise, he would not have been able to overcome Zhou Yi.

The Fire Fan was said to be a relic left by immortals, sealing within it a flame from beyond the heavens—nothing could withstand its fire. Infused with internal power, a single sweep could ignite anything.

The fire would not cease until its purpose was fulfilled, able to burn an opponent to ashes according to the wielder’s will, after which it would extinguish itself.

The requirements to wield the Fire Fan were high; in the manor, only false elixir elders or those who had reached the pinnacle of the transcendental realm and mastered superior innate intent and domain could fan it even once.

Others, lacking the necessary power, could not even lift it.

Even so, Xue Kai had used all his strength for that single sweep; to fan it again was beyond his ability.

If Zhou Yi survived this sweep, Xue Kai would be in trouble.

But Xue Kai believed that, aside from those false elixir elders, no one in this world could withstand the power of the Fire Fan.

---

Yet, miracles occur in this world; the only difference is that some happen before your eyes, and others before someone else’s.

Boom!

Feeling the flames consume him and his internal energy depleting, Zhou Yi’s furrowed brow suddenly relaxed. He stretched out his palm, turned it inward, and slapped his own chest.

Swish!

Cold light erupted from his hand, and miniature mountains appeared, clustered together. As his palm struck his chest, the tiny mountains flew out, colliding with the burning flames.

“What?”

“How is this possible?”

...

Witnessing this scene, the white-haired elder, the woman in gauze, and Xue Kai all cried out in shock, their eyes wide as copper bells, staring at Zhou Yi and the countless miniature mountains emerging from his palm, confronting the flames.

They were all from major sects, and though their relations were not particularly close, they knew each other well enough. More importantly, while Zhou Yi did not understand the origin or power of Xue Kai’s fan, they themselves certainly did.

The formidable reputation of the Fire Fan was well known in the martial world; among the relics of the immortals, its power was unmatched!

Once, the ancestor of Hills and Valleys Manor wielded the Fire Fan during a demon calamity, facing eighteen demon generals. With one sweep, the celestial flame erupted, burning them all to ashes. It was thanks to this that the calamity was barely overcome.

It should be noted that each demon general was equivalent to a false elixir elder, and those demons who could reach the rank of general far surpassed their martial counterparts in strength.

At that time, the eighteen demon generals may not have been stronger than the ancestor of Hills and Valleys Manor, but they certainly were not inferior; most likely, they were evenly matched, each possessing power equal to the ancestor.

Despite such strength, all eighteen demon generals were reduced to ashes by the Fire Fan, attesting to its terrifying might.