NOVPUB"Teacher’s words are strange, we have just met for the first time, how can there be trust?" Xu Zimei smiled.
"I want to save this Vermilion Bird," Venerable Nu sighed.
He continued, "If we wait until Heavenly Dao Academy is destroyed, it will be too late to ask for the Leaf of Life.
Give it to me first, my word is absolute."
"This Vermilion Bird is very important to you, isn’t it?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Important, very important," Venerable Nu said without the slightest hesitation.
Xu Zimei walked into the fiery sea of the Southern Luminous Flame, his body surrounded by swirling Demonic Qi, forming a barrier around him.
As he slowly approached the tombstone,
he saw several large characters engraved upon it: "The Tomb of Beloved Wife Nan Yue."
"Your wife?" Xu Zimei asked curiously.
"Why ask so many questions," Venerable Nu responded dejectedly.
"If you are unwilling to give it, then forget it."
"Well, I’ll trust you once," Xu Zimei said.
"After all, no matter what, I must get into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
Watching Xu Zimei once again take out the Leaf of Life, Venerable Nu took a deep breath.
"Don’t worry, I stand by my word, I’ll help you get in even if it costs me my life."
"I don’t know if a single Leaf of Life can save this Vermilion Bird in its current condition," Xu Zimei pondered.
If the Vermilion Bird had just been wounded, perhaps the Leaf of Life would be enough.
But this Vermilion Bird had been here for nearly a hundred years, its body decayed.
It was also thanks to the Vermilion Bird being a Divine Beast, the Southern Luminous Flame eternally unextinguished, burning all things.
And with Venerable Nu’s care over the years, it had managed to hold on.
"Do you have any ideas?" Venerable Nu asked urgently.
"Let me take a look first," Xu Zimei said.
Venerable Nu nodded.
Led by Venerable Nu, the two of them walked deeper into the sea of flames.
The sea of flames rolled like clouds, parting in the middle to leave a spacious path.
When the two reached the innermost part, they saw a high platform made of crystal appear before them.
The crystal was natural, clear and bright, emitting rich Spiritual Energy.
A blood-red heart enveloped by white flames was placed within the crystal.
"Thump, thump, thump," the faint beating of the heart was audible within.
All around were many plants, all of which enhanced Qi and Life Force.
Xu Zimei slowly approached the heart, his hands covered with swirling Demonic Qi, covering the heart.
Seeing Venerable Nu’s worried gaze, he smiled, "I’m just checking it out, nothing will happen."
After examining it, Xu Zimei found that the beating of this Vermilion Bird heart was extremely weak.
Much more fragile than he had imagined.
Moreover, many of the blood vessels in the heart were necrotic, and reconnecting with the outside was impossible.
It was now an independent entity, and using it to resurrect the Vermilion Bird would be very difficult.
Extremely difficult!!!
"How is it?" Venerable Nu asked with a sigh.
"It can be saved, but it will be quite difficult," Xu Zimei said.
"Can you save it?" Venerable Nu’s eyes shone with light, and he asked with some excitement.
In fact, he himself was out of options, and wanting the Leaf of Life was just an attempt.
"The Vermilion Bird is of fire, the guardian Sacred Creature of the far south," Xu Zimei said.
"While its Innate True Fire does not possess the Nirvana Fire of the Phoenix, which has the power of rebirth,
coupled with this Leaf of Life, being born from fire is not impossible."
"What should I do?" Venerable Nu hurriedly inquired.
"Prepare a large formation to absorb the power of the sun, and in three days, on the night of utmost Yin, integrate it with the Southern Luminous Flame," Xu Zimei said.
"There’s at least a fifty percent chance of success. As for which formation to use to absorb the sun’s power, that’s your responsibility."
"I understand," Venerable Nu nodded slightly.
"Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now," Xu Zimei waved his hand.
"I’ll return in three days."
Watching Xu Zimei’s retreating figure, Venerable Nu did not attempt to stop him but silently expressed his thanks with a "Thank you."
…
Having left the sea of flames of the Southern Luminous Flame, Xu Zimei returned to the blacksmith shop.
Clang, clang, clang, Shi Jian’s hammering resounded tirelessly.
"Where have you been?" Shi Jian quickly asked when he saw Xu Zimei.
"I forgot to tell you, there are some places on Vermilion Bird Island that are off-limits."
"I met my teacher," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"Ah," Shi Jian was momentarily startled.
Then he hurriedly asked, "You didn’t go there, did you?"
"What? It seems you know quite a bit," Xu Zimei said with a laugh.
"I don’t know, I know nothing," Shi Jian quickly waved his hands.
"I saw that Vermilion Bird’s heart, and I’ve also agreed to help save the Vermilion Bird," Xu Zimei didn’t hide anything and simply stated.
"You’re kidding, the teacher didn’t drive you out?" Shi Jian examined Xu Zimei incredulously.
"I have the Leaf of Life," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"No wonder," Shi Jian put down the sword embryo he was holding, sighed softly, and moved to sit beside Xu Zimei.
"Honestly, if you’re capable, please help the teacher.
We will remember your kindness for a lifetime."
"What’s the deal with that Vermilion Bird?" Xu Zimei asked.
"To be precise, it should be considered our Teacher’s Wife," Shi Jian said.
Seeing Xu Zimei’s puzzled expression, Shi Jian fell into contemplation.
"Heavenly Dao Academy teaches students of all kinds; aside from the human race, there are disciples from the Monster Race, Divine Beasts, Daoists, Giants, and even those from the Ancient Nether Tribe.
It’s said that when Teacher Venerable Nu was young, he once saved a Vermilion Bird during his trials.
As time slipped by, even the teacher himself forgot about this.
However, unexpectedly, after cultivating for ten thousand years, the Vermilion Bird transformed into human form and came to Heavenly Dao Academy.
The Vermilion Bird successfully passed the examination and became a disciple under our teacher."
"And then what happened?" Xu Zimei asked curiously.
"The Vermilion Bird didn’t reveal its identity, and thus the two interacted as student and teacher."
Shi Jian narrated, "Nobody expected that, in a twist of fate, the two would fall in love.
Although the teacher deeply loved the Vermilion Bird, he remained silent about it and was in quite a dilemma."
"Because the Vermilion Bird is from the Monster Race?" Xu Zimei asked.
"No, because their relationship is that of teacher and student," Shi Jian shook his head as he explained.
"The teacher values his reputation highly and feared others would gossip behind his back, so he always hovered at the edge of indecision.
The Teacher’s Wife didn’t mind and just silently accompanied the teacher.
One day, a hundred years ago, the teacher suddenly returned covered in blood.
At that time, the teacher was already at death’s door.
Later, the principal personally treated him but gave only one conclusion.
He could be saved, but the teacher’s injuries were too severe.
Damaged internal organs could be dealt with, but the main issue was that his Divine Soul was shattered and missing pieces."
