Translator: Exodus Tales  Editor: Exodus Tales

“Why would a person called Shen Lang actually risk his life to enter the Northwest Qin City to cheat the Mystic Flame's map? This is rather illogical. But if this person is Yang Dingtian, then everything becomes clear, isn't that right?” Gudu Wuhuan said. “Mister Yang Dingtian, we might have never met before, but you have a well-known reputation.”

 “Uncle Dugu Xiao has never praised anyone before, but he always sings praises of you, saying that you are the No.1 prodigy of the world's youth generation. I originally didn't believe it, but now I am truly convinced. Because you are just a mere Martial Mystic and was able to cross through 1,000 meters of the unfreezing water, it is completely unimaginable.”

 Yang Dingtian still didn't reply.

 “You don't have to stay quiet, you know? Say something.” Suddenly, Qin Huaiyu spoke, “Sire Yang Dingtian, you are really an affectionate person. Dongfang Bingling treated you like this, and you are still so devoted to her. Aren't you afraid that my aunt will be broken-hearted? To be honest, Yang Dingtian, back when you are at Qin City, I really didn't recognize you. Had it not been for Gudu Wuhuan's bold guess, I would have never known that Shen Lang is actually Yang Dingtian.”

 Yang Dingtian took a deep breath. Originally, they weren't able to deduce that Shen Lang was actually Yang Dingtian, but since he interrupted Dongfang Bingling's Sacrifice, it was possible to come to this conclusion.

 “Yang Dingtian, don't try to hide anymore.” Qin Huaiyu said, “Once this cover is blown, everything made perfect sense. I know how you knew that I have the other half of the Mystic Flame's map. Back at the Cloud Heaven City, when you were impersonating the Hidden Sect's disciple, I had a conversation with you and had shown you a few of the Foxman Race's wordings. Those wordings just happened to be from my half of the Mystic Flame's map. And you just so happened to have the other half of the Mystic Flame's map. Thus, you were able to confirm that I had the other half of the map. Hence, you went to West Prefecture City to seduce my aunt, Qin Mengli, to infiltrate the Northwest Qin City and get my half of the Mystic Flame's map. I have to admit that you were truly bold, and your plan was truly ingenious.”

 “Yang Dingtian, I have never put you in my eyes, but today, I truly have to see you in a new light. Be it your talents or your schemes, you are extremely astonis.h.i.+ng. But it is a pity that you are too immature and are still played by both my father and me. You might have the complete map of the Mystic Flame, but we made use of you instead, and we will successfully obtain the Mystic Flame while you will have to die.” Qin Huaiyu asked, “But I have a question I wish to ask. You are Yang Dingtian, how would you have the other half of the Mystic Flame's map? I truly cannot understand.”

 Yang Dingtian still didn't answer. If he were to say that the Mystic Flame's map was obtained from Ning Rou'er, she would be in danger.

 Originally, Yang Dingtian a.s.sumed that Qin Huaiyi loved Ning Rou'er a lot, but now, it seemed like Qin Huaiyu was far more sinister than Yang Dingtian imagined.

 “Yang Dingtian, if you can clear up my confusion, I can repay you by burying you together with Dongfang Bingling in a coffin. The two of you could not be together in life, but you can be together eternally after death.” Qin Huaiyu said, “But if you don't tell me, then I have to apologize. Dongfang Bingling is the No.1 beauty in the world and also the Nine Heavens Fairy. I yearn for her. After I kill her, I don't mind having fun with this No.1 beauty, even if she is dead.”

 Once this statement was out, Yang Dingtian was instantly filled with endless fury.

 He wasn't able to imagine that Qin Huaiyu could be such a devil without a bottom line.

 “Do you think that you are safe if you hide under the unfreezing pool?” Qin Huaiyu sneered and said, “It is true that with our mystic meridians, it is indeed very hard to swim through the unfreezing pool. But do you know that there is something that can allow a short burst of extremely powerful heat that will help us to swim through the unfreezing pool? It is a fire attribute demon core that is more than a thousand years old. It can release enough heat for us to cross the unfreezing pool. Right now, Dongfang Bingling should be completely icebound. Even if she is alive, she is just like the dead. Once any of us pa.s.ses through the unfreezing water, killing you will be an easy task.”

 Yang Dingtian's heart suddenly jumped.

 That's right. A thousand-year fire attribute demon core might contain energy that was inferior to Yang Dingtian's youngling sword, Ah Chou, but after using a unique technique, it could burst out with extremely powerful fire energy that could really help Qin Huaiyu cross the 1,000-meter unfreezing pool.

 Of course, Yang Dingtian also had the Mystic Fire Qilin's demon core in his spatial ring, and it could release energy that was enough for a single person to cross the unfreezing pool. But it was something that Qin Huaiyu could use, but Yang Dingtian couldn't. The reason was simple. A thousand-year demon core could release shocking energy, and Qin Huaiyu's cultivation could withstand it, but Yang Dingtian wouldn't be able to. The outcome would be almost the same as the backlash from the brutal sword spirit in the Cloud Heaven City.

 Thousand-year demon cores were definitely very precious, but regardless of Qin City, Temple of Blood or the Joyous Palace, they might not have a lack of it. However, be it Qin Huaiyu, Dugu Fengwu, or Gudu Wuhuan, they wouldn't keep it on themselves.

 “Yes, no one would be so silly to carry a thousand-year fire attribute demon core with them.” Qin Huaiyu said, “Hence, Young Lady Dugu Fengwu has already left this place to make a deal with the Foxman Race. The ma.s.sive Foxman Race should have a thousand-year-old fire attribute demon core. The treasure she is going to use for the exchange is far more valuable than the thousand-year fire attribute demon core. Hence, there should be no reason for the Foxman Race to refuse. Soon enough, she will bring back a thousand-year-old fire attribute demon core, and it shall be the moment of your and Dongfang Bingling's death.”

 Right now, Yang Dingtian understood why he didn't hear Dugu Fengwu's voice, it was because she had gone to make an exchange with the Foxman Race.

 During this time, Yang Dingtian didn't want to think about matters involving Dugu Fengwu. Like the reason for her telling Qin Huaiyu that he was the Hidden Sect's disciple, Wu Ming. Or the reason for not recognizing that Shen Lang was Yang Dingtian.

 But from the looks of things, Dugu Fengwu was much more heartless than Yang Dingtian imagined, putting aside the fact that Dugu Fengwu made a ruthless move to kill Yang Dingtian at the Five Elements Hall Secret Realm.

 If Qin Huaiyu were able to guess that Shen Lang was Yang Dingtian, Dugu Fengwu definitely knew about it too. But she actually went to the Foxman Race to get the thousand-year-old fire attribute demon core with the objective to cross the unfreezing pool to kill Yang Dingtian and Dongfang Bingling.

 This woman was indeed extremely ruthless.

 “You are still not willing to talk even now? Could you possibly still have hopes?” Qin Huaiyu laughed grimly, “Fine then. There is still 26 hours before the Mystic Flame blooms. I believe that Young Lady Dugu will bring back the thousand-year-old demon core soon. By then, we shall have a good talk when we meet again.”

 Afterward, Qin Huaiyu and Gudu Wuhuan didn't talk anymore.

 There were still 25 hours before the Mystic Flame was going to bloom. Dugu Fengwu might arrive with the thousand-year fire attribute demon core at any moment.

 Right now, Yang Dingtian naturally didn't have the mind for cultivation. He had to think of a method to solve this predicament.

 Right at this moment, there was a loud and sudden sound from the unfreezing pool above. The pool moved for a moment as though someone had jumped in.

 Yang Dingtina focused his eyes to look through the unfreezing water and desperately tried to look further upwards.

 The unfreezing water might be sparkling and limpid with the slight fluorescence, but it was 1,000 meters deep. The normal vision would only be able to see up to 2,00 meters, any further would be hard to discern.

 But the sound could be heard clearly.

 Someone was diving down and was getting closer and closer to Yang Dingtian.

 Yang Dingtian's heart was racing faster, and he had gripped his sword tightly while getting ready for combat even though this battle might be the same as smas.h.i.+ng an egg on a rock.

 That sound was getting closer and closer to Yang Dingtian.

 800 meters!

 700 meters!

 600 meters!

 500 meters!

 Finally, when the distance was 500 meters, the sound suddenly stopped.

 Afterward, the sound of swimming had resumed, but it was swimming further away. It was very obvious that this person was attempting to swim across the unfreezing water, but 500 meters was their limit. Hence, he didn't dare to continue further and could only float upwards.

 Yang Dingtian didn't know who was trying to dive down, but to be able to dive to 500 meters, that person had already surpa.s.sed Yang Dingtian's expectations.

 A short moment later, another person jumped down the unfreezing pool.

 Yang Dingtian knew that they didn't have the thousand-year fire attribute demon core, and it was impossible for them to swim across the unfreezing water, but his heart couldn't help but feel tense.

 As expected, at the 500-meter mark, that person had stopped and started to float back up.

 It was obvious that Qin Huaiyu and Gudu Wuhuan had both attempted once. Both their cultivation should be about the same, as they had to stop at the 500-meter mark.

 Yang Dingtian took a deep breath.

 “I must do something. I cannot just sit and wait to die.”

 Once Dugu Fengwu brought back the thousand-year fire attribute demon core, it would mean death for Yang Dingtian. Previously, they weren't even prepared to let him go as Shen Lang. Now that they knew he was Yang Dingtian, they were definitely going to make sure to kill him.

 Be it Qin Huaiyu or Gudu Wuhuan, Yang Dingtian was in their must-kill list. Yang Dingtian might only be lower by one position in the list than Dongfang Bingling; perhaps, they even had the same priority on the list.

 Hence, Yang Dingtian had to think of a method to save himself.

 Yang Dingtian told Dongfang Niemie everything and asked, “Master, Dugu Fengwu should only have a single thousand-year fire attribute demon core after the exchange. It means that only one of them can cross the unfreezing water. But either one of them can kill me easily. The only method to survive is to awake Dongfang Bingling in advance. This way, if either Qin Huaiyu or the others come down, they will not be able to kill us and will be killed by Dongfang Bingling instead.”

 That's right, be it Qin Huaiyu, Dugu Fengwu, or Gudu Wuhuan, none of them was a match for Dongfang Bingling alone.