Hao Ren and Han Lingshi were standing at the base of the stairwell and what they saw made the latter's heart waver. She clasped Hao Ren's hand tightly and asked, "Can we go back?"
Hao Ren looked at her pale face and patted her hand gently, "Don't worry. Thinking about the meaning of your cultivation mantra. To climb the peak one needs to brave heavy winds, and horrifying storms. Also, I am by your side, do not worry."
As he said this, a strong energy wave shook the cavern. The couple could not help but take a step back. Han Lingshi worriedly looked at the coiled sleeping silver dragon before her. The creature was gigantic, it made the young lady wonder how it even fits in this cave. On the other side of the dragon, a red and gold phoenix was sleeping perched on a parasol tree which was condensed of flames.
This was the sight that scared Han Lingshi. These two creatures were regarded as the strongest entities in the myths, it was an obvious reaction from her. Around the dragon everything was frozen into icicles, and behind the phoenix even the air seemed to be burning.
She turned to look at Hao Ren and was surprised. Hao Ren had a pale face, and his forehead was sweating, but in his eyes resided a spark of madness. She could sense his excitement and that surprised her.
She wanted to ask him something when Hao Ren said, "Lingshi, those two creatures are the manifestation of the two flame energies. Can you imagine how strong someone would become if they held the power of these two?"
Han Lingshi realized why Hao Ren was excited. While she saw death, and destruction in the two manifestations. He saw opportunity to gain power that could make him stronger. Hao Ren looked in her eyes and said, "In the world where strength is supreme, rules are made by the strong. Strength is not a weapon, but a capital that allows you to maintain peace and order. This text is hosted at novel•fire.net
Only the strong have the right to forgive and forget. If you are an idealist, you would not be able to make it in the Spirit Shimmer world. Put that aside, even in this mortal realm, we have to hide from DEHB, and many people are plotting against us. Even our own government would push us in the corner at the moment's notice.
Why can they do this? Why can the so called elite decide the fates of the millions and billions? In this world wealth is power. They are rich and so they can buy arms and weapons and dictate fates. However, in the spirit shimmer world, the bigger the fist, the bigger the word.
Think about it and tell me, if your parents and grandparents had the strength, would you still be here looking after a business empire? You might be an Empress, making the world a better place for the weak. Even to help someone we need to command strength and respect."
Han Lingshi took a deep breath, she agreed with what Hao Ren said, but she still asked, "What do you think about the destruction done by the strong? What about the fates of those who wage wars against the weak? Why is power so important?"
Hao Ren smiled and replied, "Power is not bad, but how you use it can be. Do you think I am someone who will go crazy because I have strength? Had that been the case, I would have used Xiao Mei to cripple the entire government and pull all sorts of strings."
Han Lingshi opened her eyes wide in realization. Hao Ren had Xiao Mei for a long time now, yet he has always been using honest means to earn his keep and make his name. The young man raised his hand to cup her face and said, "My love, I also know that if I ever go crazy from the drug of power, you will keep me in check."
Han Lingshi could not help but look at him and ask, "What would you do if I were to go crazy from power?"
Hao Ren smiled and said, "Have you forgotten what I promised you? I will protect you, even if it from yourself. I will never give up on you, and I will never let you forget who you are."
Han Lingshi sensed his sincerity and sighed. Then she asked, "What shall we do now?"
Hao Ren said, "When in a treasure trove, always probe the place with yin and yang eyes before you make any advances to explore the place."
The young lady nodded, and channeled some of her spiritual energy too look at the scene before her and said, "It is a silver barrier. As if mercury floating in the void."
Hao Ren replied, "This is the barrier of the spiritual energy and it is preventing the baleful energy of the flames to just obliterate this place completely."
Han Lingshi asked, "Who created this barrier?"
She was very curios about this and wanted to know what was going on. Hao Ren smiled and shrugged, "I don't know, but if it is not the work of a cultivator, then it is the work of natural laws of this mortal world."
The young lady nodded, even though she did not understand what that means, it was better to feed her curiosity to feed a candy for the time being. Hao Ren took a deep breath and replied, "Let's go."
After exchanging a glance the two people held hands and walked forward to go through the barrier. As they were circulating the spiritual energy in their bodies, they passed through the barrier with great ease, however, the next moment, the phantoms of the dragon and phoenix opened their eyes and they roared at the two humans.
Hao Ren said hurriedly, "The flames are a form of energy and to absorb them just keep on chanting the spiritual technique mantra."
Han Lingshi nodded and saw the two phantoms shoot towards them. Hao Ren thought it was going to be a simple process, but at this moment, the system spoke in his mind, *Ding: Host, you and your wife need to rush to the point closest to the flames. Only then you will be able to absorb them properly.
The hot flames of Phoenix are of Yang Element, they are suitable for you, and the Nether Dragon is of the Yin Element, suitable for your wife. All the best.*
Hao Ren cursed the system and said, "Lingshi, charge towards the coiling dragon. It is of yin element, that will do you good. I will take on this big bird."
Han Lingshi was surprised, but then an icicle as big as a sedan shoot past her as Hao Ren pushed her back and a thin layer of frost appeared on her shoulder. She realized it was an do or die situation. The two of them nodded to each other and dashed forward.
Hao Ren was being targeted by the flame balls of the phoenix, and Han Lingshi was dodging and moving forward against the barrage of icicles. Her movements were not very fluent at the beginning, but after a few minutes, she got the gist of it. She was also observing Hao Ren who was leading ahead by a few steps and understood how to use the spiritual energy to increase her efficiency.
They were both using Yin and Yang eyes to look for the loopholes and weaknesses in the attacks, and this was why Han Lingshi could see how Hao Ren was channeling his spiritual energy.
Suddenly, a flame ball exploded while Hao Ren was dodging it, and Han Lingshi exclaimed, "Ren!"
In front of her was a cloud of smoke, and she heard a loud call back, "Don't stop moving!"
Her body reacted instinctively after this call, as a cluster of sharp icicles were headed her way through the smoke cloud. Han Lingshi did not have the time to think that the two flames have united against humans.
The flames had a natural consciousness, and wanted to consume each other to grow stronger, but this couple of weak humans dared to come closer to them. This was blasphemy and the flames wanted to erase them.
Han Lingshi rolled on the ground and then she sensed a strong force coming towards her from the ground under her and she jumped. The ground had turned it a puddle of magma. She landed on the side and moved forward.
On the other side, Hao Ren also stood up from the ground and began to dash around in an erratic pattern, because wherever he stepped, a six feet tall ice spike would erupt. The young man said, "Use your sword Lingshi."
The young lady nodded, they had been practicing the sword skills left for them by Tang Zen. After the two of them took out the swords, they channeled their spiritual energy through the blades, and began to move around and use the weapons to hit the flame balls or the icicles that were close to their bodies.
The two left behind dazzling streaks of ice blue and magma orange as they confronted the attacks. The cavern was echoing with weapon clashing sounds and explosions. However, the two people covered for each other as they advanced and the burden over their shoulders lightened. They were in perfect sync and could sense the movements they were about to make.
They had covered a thirty meters distance, and now, the gigantic creatures looked like mountains, however, the core area where the real flames were burning was now in sight. It was still forty meters away from them and Hao Ren yelled at the phoenix that roared at him, "WHAT! Do you think I am scared of you? I will get you, just you wait."
Han Lingshi saw that the magma orange flame paused in its attacks, and then she yelled at the roaring dragon, "Shut up! I am coming for you and that is your fate."
The roles had reversed, the two weak humans were moving forward under their combined pressure, and they were now even scolding the spiritual fires. Han Lingshi and Hao Ren used the momentary stupor of the flames to dash, and cover up twenty meters before the attacks commenced once more.
Now they could see the fumes of icy blue and magma orange energies floating around. The energies were absorbed by their bodies, and their bodies began to react violently to them. The attacks of the flames did not stop. The couple was again put under the combined pressure, and Hao Ren said, "Lingshi, fuck it all, lets make a run for it."
Han Lingshi, who was busy waving her sword to deflect the icicles coming at her, saw the spark of mania flash in his eyes. She could not understand how this man wanted to put his life at stake for this power, but what she did not understand even more was the impulse that made her want to follow him in his every stupidity.
Unknowingly, she smiled and her gaze changed. The two of them were jumping and dancing around with their blades, as they broke out into laughter. At this moment, their unity, and their combined confidence had reached to a higher level.
They dashed forward in a straight line, a simple and the most efficient manner of movement, that could lead them to death. They were already covered with scratches and small gashes, this was foolishness, but they did it anyways.
Suddenly, the two of them pushed each other to the side, and dodged an attack from the flames. The ground exploded with dust clouds. Then Han Lingshi took out a rope from her space ring and tossed it to Hao Ren.
This was from the supplies of their road trip. Hao Ren caught the end of it, and increased his speed, before anchoring his feet onto the ground. This caused one more attack to miss him, before he pulled the rope with all his strength. Han Lingshi cooperated with him in perfect harmony and she made a quick circle around him before using the combined momentum of their movements to jump for ten meters.
As she landed onto the so-called altar, the empty space before the icy blue flame. She pulled the rope with all her strength and Hao Ren also jumped to land beside her. The two were now standing before the two flames floating and burning in the void.
A wave of energy disintegrated their clothes completely and Hao Ren said, "Sit back to back and cultivate like that night."
They sat down and the flames began to drill through their pores. The final phase of flame refinement had began.