Chapter 100: Men Are All Scoundrels

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Hearing Zhou Qi’s words, the little skeletal bird fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly, “Men truly are no good. Well, in my current state, I’m not worth your investment—no strength, no beauty. Men are all big pigs. If I were to regain my human form and beauty, you’d regret it.”

“Senior, that’s not true. You are a divine beast, and those who wronged you were also divine beasts. It has nothing to do with men or women. Don’t generalize all men because of one evil dragon—that’s just promoting gender conflict. Besides, I’m helping you because your plight is truly pitiful. It’s out of sympathy, not because of your appearance,” Zhou Qi retorted.

“Alright, since I’m asking for your help now, you’re right,” the skeletal bird said with a hint of grievance.

Zhou Qi said no more and silently rowed the boat. The phoenix’s mindset was problematic—then again, it was just bones left, so clearly the mind was gone too.

“What’s your name?” The phoenix spoke again when Zhou Qi remained silent.

“Zhou Qi.”

“Oh, I’m called Huang Qianqian. You can call me Little Huang or Qianqian. Can I call you Little Zhou or Qiqi?”

“Whatever you prefer, senior.”

“You might think I talk too much. I haven’t spoken for tens of thousands of years. Can you understand that?”

“I understand,” Zhou Qi nodded. Indeed, it was pitiful—a chatterbox trapped in this Sea of Buried Souls, surrounded by nothing but bones, with only oneself conscious. Not going insane was impressive.

Seeing Zhou Qi’s understanding, Huang Qianqian launched into a torrent of words, telling of her heroic days, the creatures who pursued her that could circle the entire Xuan Continent, her emotional journey after being ambushed, and how she had spent the past ten-plus years since regaining consciousness.

Zhou Qi listened quietly, without interruption, rowing the little bone boat silently toward the shore.

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In the latter half of the Sea of Buried Souls, bones became scarcer. Zhou Qi guessed that few creatures could endure that far. With Huang Qianqian chattering beside him, the journey seemed much quicker. According to the route given by the great dragon, after crossing the Sea of Buried Souls, the next challenge was the Fiery Array.

But looking ahead, not a single spark of fire emerged, nor was there any warmth felt. Across the way stood a colossal altar, surrounded by countless huge stones forming a plaza. At the center of the altar was a large cauldron, its contents unknown.

Zhou Qi disembarked and pushed the bone boat back to shore, then began examining the plaza. The entire square was paved with massive slabs of granite, each carved with intricate patterns and inscriptions that dazzled the eyes, making it impossible to discern their meaning.

“Little Zhou, I’m still on the boat,” Huang Qianqian called out.

“Senior, if you can get on shore, can’t you come down yourself?” Zhou Qi asked curiously.

“No, to get on your lousy boat, I have already exhausted the power I’ve accumulated over these past ten-plus years. Now I can’t move an inch. You promised to take me out of here, so don’t go back on your word,” Huang Qianqian explained.

“Alright,” Zhou Qi sighed and returned to the boat, carefully cradling the little skeletal bird in his hands, wary of applying too much force for fear it would crumble.

He searched for a stone carved with a flame pattern, recalling the dragon’s instructions for breaking the formation. Carefully, he found a slab with a single flame emblem and stepped onto it. As soon as he stood firm, the stone lit up, and a burst of flames rose, instantly enveloping him.

Startled, Zhou Qi hurriedly retreated, but no matter where he moved, the flames persisted. The large cauldron at the altar’s center also ignited, casting a torch-like glow that illuminated the dim space. Was he about to endure fiery torment?

The flames were blisteringly hot. Zhou Qi’s newly worn clothes immediately caught fire, leaving him naked as his skin reddened under the blaze. The fire on the stone was everywhere. He had no choice but to leap back to shore. As soon as he landed, the flames on the stones and in the cauldron vanished.

So this was the Fiery Array? Stepping on the stones triggered the formation. Zhou Qi examined the stones closely, noticing that besides those with a single flame emblem, there were others with multiple flames, up to five. If the number of flame emblems represented the intensity of the fire, then the flames from the five-flame stones must be tremendously fierce.

He thought that if he could quickly pass over all the single-flame stones, he should be able to withstand the heat.

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“Little Zhou, throw me into that big cauldron at the center. I can regain some of my strength and shed this skeletal form,” Huang Qianqian suddenly said.

“Senior, the flames in that cauldron must be incredibly powerful. I’m afraid you’d turn to ash the moment you enter. Besides, the altar is surrounded by those five-flame stones. If I go over there, I’ll surely die,” Zhou Qi refused.

“Kid, I was born to play with fire. When it comes to fire mastery, even the dragon clan doesn’t compare to me. Once I regain some strength, I’ll fight for you three times. A phoenix enforcer—isn’t that impressive? You should know that even some Immortal Lords and Sovereigns don’t have such a chance,” Huang Qianqian boasted.

“Senior, my lifespan is short. I’m afraid I won’t have the fortune to enjoy such favors,” Zhou Qi quickly shook his head. A phoenix enforcer sounded impressive, but risking his life for a bodyguard who could only strike three times wasn’t worth it. Besides, judging by this little bird’s frail frame, it didn’t look very formidable.

“You’re foolish! This formation was created by the dragon clan to temper their bodies. Passing through the fiery trial burns away impurities in your flesh and blood. Wouldn’t that make your body as strong as theirs? The flame is called the Liyan Sacred Fire. The flames in this formation are just a fragment of its true power. Tempering the body with this fire also accelerates healing. With such a rare opportunity, you’d throw it away?” Huang Qianqian coaxed.

Fire with such miraculous effects? Zhou Qi’s heart leapt with joy. If his wounds healed faster, his endurance in battle would greatly improve. In an evenly matched fight, whoever recovers faster gains the upper hand. It’s not always possible to take healing pills.

“Alright, I’m doing this for you, senior, not for body tempering. If I wasn’t hoping to help you recover sooner, no matter how great the benefits, I wouldn’t take the risk. If I succeed, you must promise to fight for me ten times,” Zhou Qi said reluctantly.

“Eight times, you hypocritical man,” Huang Qianqian sneered.

“Fine.” Zhou Qi had expected a counteroffer down to five times, but Huang Qianqian’s demand was surprisingly high.

Since the benefits were clear, Zhou Qi no longer hesitated. He leapt back onto the single-flame stone. Instantly, flames engulfed him. Sitting cross-legged, he allowed the fire to sear his entire body. Large beads of sweat vaporized immediately under the intense heat. Some impurities in his flesh and blood were expelled by the flames.