FIMA Ch170: Fireworks

A few strands of spiritual power brushed past like a spring breeze.

The people of Divine Wind Hall instantly felt their bodies lighten, and the fierce killing intent and spiritual pressure that Yu Haofeng had just unleashed came to an abrupt halt.

But in the very next moment, an even sharper and more ruthless killing intent swept across the field.

The black demonic energy filling the abyss was driven by spiritual power into dozens of pointed air currents, coiling like hurricanes as they all swept toward Yu Haofeng.

Yu Haofeng’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately raised a palm to block.

But just then, countless motes of starlight poured down from the heavens, and the dark abyss suddenly shone as brightly as day.

With a thunderous boom—

a giant palm of starlight several men high came crashing down right after it.

The instant Yu Haofeng saw that giant palm rushing toward him, he was shocked beyond measure—and furious beyond measure as well.

Of course he recognized that palm strike, and of course he knew to whom it belonged.

Only a few months ago, he had been forced back again and again beneath this very palm, left utterly routed.

In all the days since he left the Xianling Secret Realm, he had secluded himself and cultivated bitterly without pause. He had firmly believed he had become far, far stronger than before.

Yet now, faced with this overwhelming pressure—

the only thing he could do was slam the tip of his foot against the ground and shoot backward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

He retreated all the way to the mountain wall, using its resistance to finally dispel the incoming palm force, then spat out a mouthful of blood. After that, his voice exploded through the entire area, filled with the utmost rage.

“Gu Siyuan! You’re actually not dead!”

“Gu Siyuan—you really didn’t die!”

Silence fell over the entire scene. All eyes turned toward the source of that palm force.

At the far right side of Divine Wind Hall’s thirty-man group stood a figure with a calm expression and faintly cold brows. There was not the slightest trace of arrogance or pride on his face, as though what he had just done were no more special than eating or drinking.

His figure was long and upright, his bearing elegant and imposing, like a mountain standing still or a deep abyss at rest. Only his face looked utterly ordinary.

But everyone present knew this could not possibly be his real appearance. Even his true name had already been called out by Yu Haofeng just now.

Zhao Tianzong’s expression turned extremely complicated as he muttered, “So it was you?”

Gu Siyuan said nothing. A flash of white light passed over his face, revealing once more his own cold and sharply handsome true appearance.

Looking at him, Cheng Feng gave a bitter smile. “So Brother Xie was really Brother Gu…”

At that, Xie Xueyi also restored his true face, revealing that brilliant, dazzlingly beautiful one, and said with a grin, “You could keep calling him Brother Xie if you like. Gu Siyuan has already taken his husband’s surname.”

Everyone froze for a moment.

Down here in this terrifying abyss, they had somehow gone from a martial showdown to a pure romance scene?

“…” Cheng Feng coughed a few times.

You little couple really know how to play.

Gu Siyuan glanced at Xie Xueyi and said in a low voice, “Naughty again.”

The corners of Xie Xueyi’s eyes curved upward as he acted spoiled. “But I’m only telling the truth, gege. Don’t be shy.”

Gu Siyuan caught his wrist and gently rubbed it.

Xie Xueyi’s expression only grew more smug.

The palm that had just nearly been capable of crushing everyone present landed on him with incomparable gentleness, bringing him nothing but endless reassurance.

On the other side, the people of Blazing Flame Gang saw Yu Haofeng badly injured by a single move and were first stunned, then several people shot out from the group in a hurry and rushed toward him.

“Young master!”

Some pulled out pills, some circulated their power to help heal him. Their coordination was extremely orderly.

Seeing this scene, Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes and immediately lowered his head to murmur to Xie Xueyi, “Stay close to me!”

Xie Xueyi froze.

In the next moment, he saw sword intent suddenly surge around Gu Siyuan. His figure flashed, sword qi roaring like thunder as he slashed toward where Yu Haofeng stood.

Yu Haofeng happened to be facing their direction and instantly went pale.

He had never expected that Gu Siyuan, who had just been speaking normally, would suddenly erupt into murderous action.

At once, he shoved several of his own subordinates in front of him toward Gu Siyuan’s path, then retreated at top speed while gathering all the spiritual power in his body and fleeing desperately toward some point deeper in the center of Lie Demon Abyss.

“Young master!”

Those few subordinates pushed out as shields were unable to delay Gu Siyuan for more than a breath; they died beneath his sword almost instantly.

Gu Siyuan still did not stop, continuing to pursue Yu Haofeng’s fleeing direction with sword in hand.

Xie Xueyi immediately understood what Gu Siyuan had meant earlier, and his own figure flashed as he chased after them into the darkness.

The disciples of both Blazing Flame Gang and Divine Wind Hall were still too shocked to process everything, and only looked at each other in confusion.

Zhao Tianzong frowned and said to Cheng Feng, “Ignore them. Continue the Fiery Contest!”

“Mm.” Cheng Feng came back to himself and nodded, then turned his gaze toward the Blazing Flame Gang group opposite them, now reduced by several people thanks to Gu Siyuan’s strike. “Then we’ll start with you.”

The faces of the Blazing Flame Gang members changed.

Yu Haofeng had already run, but Divine Wind Hall still had an expert like Zhao Tianzong on its side.

…

Following the traces and disturbances Yu Haofeng left behind while fleeing, Gu Siyuan and Xie Xueyi chased after him one after the other.

Below Lie Demon Abyss, everything was sheer cliffs and ravines. The paths twisted and were hard to travel, yet Yu Haofeng seemed almost to possess heavenly vision, moving extremely quickly without the slightest hesitation.

After some time, the demonic energy grew heavier and heavier.

Xie Xueyi frowned. If Gu Siyuan had not reforged and improved the spirit artifacts provided by Divine Wind Hall before they descended, the demonic energy would probably already be directly corroding them now.

Just then, Yu Haofeng suddenly squeezed into a narrow gap between two neighboring mountains. The entrance was incredibly tight, only just wide enough for a single person to pass through, looking very much like a dead-end ravine.

Gu Siyuan pulled Xie Xueyi to a stop not far away, staring at that pitch-black slit of an entrance as he narrowed his eyes.

Hugging his arm, Xie Xueyi asked softly, “Gege, this guy seems way too familiar with this place. There won’t be some trap up ahead, will there?”

Gu Siyuan held his wrist and lightly rubbed it a few times. “There’s definitely something wrong. Whether it’s a trap is less certain. The demonic energy here is too thick. My divine sense can’t penetrate it. We’ll probably have to get a bit closer and take a look.”

“Then let’s go take a look. Maybe it’s connected to what we came here for.” Xie Xueyi nodded, fully trusting.

Gu Siyuan nodded. “Mm.”

The two of them moved quietly and carefully, suppressing all spiritual power as they approached the narrow entrance.

The moment they drew near, they heard faint voices coming from inside.

“…Ancestor, things have changed a bit. A strong enemy has mixed his way down here. You may need to act personally.”

Gu Siyuan and Xie Xueyi exchanged a glance. That was Yu Haofeng’s voice.

The two of them pressed themselves against the mountain wall, added spiritual power to their eyes, and looked through the narrow crack.

In the next instant, Xie Xueyi nearly jumped.

What the hell—what was this? There was actually a place like this under Lie Demon Abyss?

Beyond that narrow slit of an entrance was a fairly large valley enclosed on all sides by sheer cliffs, filled with extremely thick demonic energy.

At the very center of the flat ground sat a huge square pool. Yu Haofeng stood respectfully before it.

The pool contained not water, but thick blood-red liquid. Floating and sinking within it were many stark white human bones. At the very center of the blood pool bloomed a huge ugly black lotus, and lying atop the flower was an aged, withered figure.

As the lotus swayed slightly, the blood-energy in the pool seemed to be guided by it, bubbling and flowing toward the lotus roots.

And as that happened, the old figure lying above it let out a long, satisfied breath.

The whole scene looked both bizarre and utterly sinister.

Healing?

Gu Siyuan more or less guessed what the blood pool was for and immediately moved to pull Xie Xueyi away.

But at that exact moment, the aged figure on the black lotus suddenly opened its muddy eyes.

“Someone followed you here!”

A hoarse and hideous voice exploded beside the ears of the two of them.

Gu Siyuan instantly felt his heart shake. A vague and indescribable murderous pressure enveloped him, making his scalp numb and leaving him unable to move for a moment.

Xie Xueyi’s face turned even paler, cold sweat pouring down, his eyes faintly red as if he had been dragged into some terrifying nightmare.

Gu Siyuan bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, the pain forcing his mind clear.

The instant he regained his ability to move, he immediately activated the earth-escape talisman he had already prepared in his hand. A flash of yellow light burst out, and holding Xie Xueyi tightly in his arms, he fled in one motion.

Using an earth-escape talisman in a place like Lie Demon Abyss was extremely dangerous. The next instant, one might be teleported straight into some monster’s lair.

But Gu Siyuan believed that no matter how dangerous that might be, it could not possibly be more dangerous than the figure in that ravine.

The moment the old ancestor said someone was there, Yu Haofeng had already rushed out. But he was still one step too late, only catching sight of Gu Siyuan and Xie Xueyi disappearing underground, carried away by the talisman.

“Damn it!” Furious, he kicked the mountain wall—but then noticed a black box lying nearby against the rock.

He picked up the box and walked back into the ravine, saying in a dark mood, “Ancestor, they got away…”

The aged figure on the black lotus had at some point already sat up, its gaze heavy. “So this is the strong enemy you spoke of. He truly does have a bit of skill. Just a Golden Core, and yet he was able to break free from my pressure in an instant.”

Yu Haofeng nodded. “Yes.”

Then, thinking of something, he added, “Ancestor, this person is far stronger than I am. If we can capture him and use him as food to restore your strength, it would certainly bring great benefit.”

“Heh heh heh…” The old figure let out an eerie laugh. “Don’t worry. Since they came down into Lie Demon Abyss, not one of them will escape. No matter where he runs, I will find him.”

The moment those words fell, the black lotus in the blood pool seemed to come alive, sprouting countless roots that stretched outward like venomous snakes.

Seeing this, Yu Haofeng was instantly delighted and hurriedly flattered him. “Many thanks, Ancestor.”

“If I had not spent several thousand years sleeping beneath Lie Demon Abyss in order to prolong my life and avoid this world’s heavenly law, causing my strength to decline greatly and making it difficult for me to move freely, that boy would never have had the chance to escape just now.” The old figure continued drawing in the blood and flesh from the pool, its complexion growing better and better.

Yu Haofeng also laughed and respectfully said, “The cultivators of this world are nothing but lowly people. Before Ancestor, they are no more than ants.”

“Yes. We are leaving this barren land.” The old figure nodded, its voice heavy. “This time, when I emerge, your planning of this Fiery Contest was well done. Letting all these high-spirited young geniuses slaughter one another here, so that I may feast freely on them and restore my strength at its peak—it was very well done.”

Yu Haofeng immediately bowed. “Ancestor’s blessings are boundless. Our great plan will succeed.”

“Good.” The old figure looked toward the object in his hand and asked, “What is that you’re holding?”

Yu Haofeng glanced at the black box in his hand. “It seems to be something that fellow dropped before escaping…”

Meanwhile, on the other side, Gu Siyuan emerged from underground with Xie Xueyi and then ran at high speed for a long time more before finally swallowing pills to restore spiritual power.

Panting, Xie Xueyi said, “Gege, we need to leave the abyss immediately. I can feel something catching up to us.”

Gu Siyuan looked toward the dark sky in the distance and said softly, “That earth-escape talisman probably carried us about a hundred li away from that ravine.”

Xie Xueyi blinked and immediately reacted. “Gege, do you already have some idea?”

Gu Siyuan said to him, “Where I come from, there’s a saying: as long as the firepower covers everything, what monster or demon can survive?”

“Huh? Where you come from? You mean our old mortal hometown? There’s a saying like that there? I haven’t been back in over ten years, so I had no idea…” Xie Xueyi blinked, his eyes clear and bright, full of a kind of curious little spirit.

“…” Gu Siyuan fell silent for a moment.

Right. The fact that they were childhood sweethearts and had once had a marriage arrangement between them was something he kept forgetting.

He raised a hand and pressed it atop Xie Xueyi’s head, rubbing it gently. “That’s not the important point. The important thing is that I’m going to give you a firework show.”

“Fireworks? Like the things mortals set off during festivals? Alright, I’ve seen those—they’re quite grand…” Xie Xueyi immediately giggled, then eagerly added, “Gege, best of all, after we return to the sect, you should set off another one there so everyone knows you belong to me. That way those junior brothers and sisters won’t keep having ideas about you.”

Gu Siyuan’s lips curved upward. “That kind of firework… probably not.”

“Why?” Xie Xueyi puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction.

In the very next instant—

Boom!

A heaven-shaking explosion burst from the distant mountains.

The earth shook and the mountains trembled.

Savage firelight illuminated half the sky.

Almost before their very eyes, several continuous mountain peaks vanished into nothingness.

All the young experts within Lie Demon Abyss participating in the Fiery Contest stopped what they were doing and turned to look toward the blaze.

That was the very center of the abyss, where the demonic energy was densest. Their artifacts could not withstand that level of corrosion, so they had not gone there. Looking at it now, that had been unimaginably fortunate. Otherwise, with a disturbance like this, where would any of them still have their lives?

At the cliff edges above the abyss, the people of Wind and Snow City’s various factions were equally dazed.

What had just happened?

What had occurred down in Lie Demon Abyss?

Xie Xueyi stared with his mouth open, then slowly turned his head toward Gu Siyuan. “Gege… that was your firework?”

Gu Siyuan nodded. “Mm.”

Xie Xueyi threw himself against him in a sudden pounce and said wildly, “Gege, this must be your latest improved thunderfire bombs, right? You’d need at least several thousand exploding at once to get an effect like that, right? Your soul power is way too monstrous. How can you control several thousand thunderfire bombs at the same instant from hundreds of li away…”

Gu Siyuan raised a brow, looking slightly helpless. “That really can’t be done.”

“What can’t gege do?” Xie Xueyi tilted his head up and huffed unhappily, then widened his eyes and asked curiously, “Then… what just happened?”

“Pre-set timing, then sympathetic detonation.” Gu Siyuan’s explanation was brief and precise.

“…” Xie Xueyi.

Mm. In any case, it was something he did not understand.

Gu Siyuan’s lips lifted, and he pinched his cheek. “Was the firework pretty?”

“Pretty. The prettiest firework I’ve ever seen.” Xie Xueyi nodded excitedly, then let out a long sigh. “But yes… this really can’t be set off inside the sect…”

It was way too terrifying.

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