Chapter 178: A Journey and a Stroke of Destiny

At the edge of the cliff, Tian Yi fixed his gaze on the magma below, then raised his hand to point at it from a distance. Instantly, the once tranquil magma began to tremble. Moments later, a strange wailing rose from beneath the molten rock—a sound not unfamiliar to Zhou Qing, reminiscent of the dragon calls he once heard in the Ghost King Lake.

As Zhou Qing wondered whether a fire dragon might truly be lurking beneath the magma, a fiery red figure burst forth. At the sight of it, Zhou Qing instinctively retreated a step behind the cliff. The figure that flew out of the magma was not large, about twenty feet in length. Though its size was not imposing, he recognized it at once: it was a fire dragon.

"Is the Phantom Peerless with you?" Tian Yi asked as the fire dragon ascended.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing hurriedly retrieved the Phantom Peerless from his treasure pouch and handed it to his ancestor.

The fire dragon soared from the magma, then opened its maw toward Tian Yi, who stood on the precipitous edge. A crimson serpent of flame shot from its mouth. Seeing this, Tian Yi conjured a massive shield from the Phantom Peerless, blocking the fire serpent's attack. His ethereal form shifted, striding across the void toward the hovering dragon.

As Tian Yi approached, the fire dragon flickered and dove back toward the magma below. But the moment its fiery form shifted, Tian Yi transformed the Phantom Peerless into a sharp sword and casually hurled it at the creature.

The blade struck the dragon precisely. The small fire dragon uttered a low, resonant cry and plunged beneath the magma. As it fell, Tian Yi's ethereal form followed it into the fiery depths.

Moments later, a thunderous dragon roar erupted from below. Standing atop the cliff, Zhou Qing glimpsed only a massive dragon tail thrashing within the magma. The thickness of that tail far exceeded that of the water dragon he had once slain in Ghost King Lake. Clearly, another enormous fire dragon slumbered below.

After the earth-shattering roar, Zhou Qing expected the fire dragon to emerge for a fierce battle with Tian Yi. Yet the colossal creature merely flicked its tail and then fell silent.

Soon after, Tian Yi’s dark figure rose from the magma, ascending directly to the cliff. Zhou Qing saw that his ancestor held a burning ball of flame.

"Because of the limitations between realms, and since the fire spirit root I left behind is incomplete, the power of the fire spirit here is less than half of what I once imbued," Tian Yi explained, returning to the cliff. With a wave, he sent the flame across the air, and it entered Zhou Qing's body.

As the flame entered him, Zhou Qing felt his entire body ignite, overwhelmed by searing heat. He noticed flames flickering from his hands. Not only his hands—his cheeks, neck, and all exposed skin turned from pale flesh to fiery red. The burning sensation was agonizing; after enduring it for several moments, he closed his eyes and fainted once again.

...

When he awoke, Zhou Qing found himself lying in a dark stone chamber. He took out a luminous stone and glanced around, only to realize the strange stone had vanished without a trace.

He still had many questions for Tian Yi, but seeing the situation, he knew his ancestor's remnant soul had likely dissipated.

On his way out of the cave, Zhou Qing pondered the world he had seen after being absorbed by the strange stone—a world formed by divine power, unreal yet wondrous. If one day his cultivation reached its peak, could he create a realm of his own?

And this world he lived in—could it be, as Tian Yi said, created by the supreme beings? If so, why did they forge such vast realms and set rules between them? Surely, there must be reasons behind it.

If not, then where did life originate in this world?

Lost in these questions he had never considered before entering the cave, Zhou Qing found himself outside.

Standing at the mouth of the cave, a dazzling ray of sunlight pierced down. He raised his hand to shield his eyes. Just as he was about to descend the mountain, Hong Yun emerged from the slope nearby.

Zhou Qing had come to the Northern Que Forest to retrieve the Firespirit Pearl and his ancestor’s legacy. Now that he had obtained both, he had no reason to linger.

Escorted by Hong Yun, Zhou Qing retraced the path back through the forest. As he left the woods, several elder cultivators appeared at the forest's edge.

Those cultivators, wielding magical treasures, stared intently at Zhou Qing and Hong Yun.

"Decades ago, we swore that humans and the undead would keep to their own sides and never interfere. What is the meaning of this?" asked an elderly Taoist, his white hair cascading over his shoulders, holding an eight-sided mirror as he questioned Hong Yun.

Hong Yun did not respond to the old Taoist’s inquiry. Instead, she walked to the protective formation, tore open the shield with her hand, and watched as Zhou Qing stepped outside.

"Because of the agreement made decades ago, I can only escort the master this far," she said, respectfully bowing to Zhou Qing.

"Thank you for your escort. Until we meet again," Zhou Qing replied, returning the salute. He watched as Hong Yun's figure vanished into the forest in a few blinks.

Turning back to the cultivators by the formation, Zhou Qing saw that all but one stared at him in confusion. Only one wore a gentle smile.

"Miss Mu, I am leaving. May our paths cross again," Zhou Qing said to Mu Kongxue, the only smiling figure among the group. With that, he strode toward the exit of the Northern Que Forest.

"Young friend, please wait," called the old Taoist who had spoken with Hong Yun, halting Zhou Qing’s steps.

"What does the elder require?" Zhou Qing asked.

"What is your name? Which sect do you belong to? What is your relationship with the lady queen of the undead in this forest?"

"My name is Zhou Qing, disciple of Tian Yi. The lady Hong Yun and I are not acquainted. Before entering this forest, I had never met her."

"Never met her? Then why did the undead queen treat you with such respect?"

"That is a private matter, elder. Please do not inquire further. Farewell."

With that, Zhou Qing clasped his hands behind his back and strode swiftly into the forest, his red silhouette soon vanishing from the cultivators' sight.