“Not named it yet. We’ll see once it’s fully formed,” Yan Zhen said flatly. “First, you’re dead.”
With those words, he activated the Surging Spring Boots and shot toward Lan Ke.
In that instant, abject terror gripped Lan Ke. He flung out every trump card in a frenzy.
Mystic power freeze, shield artifact, protective talisman… layers upon layers barricaded him.
“Yan Zhen! You can’t kill me! I’m the Young City Lord—my father’s a Mystic General expert! Kill me, and you’ll have no burial ground. Even your cousin sisters will be dragged in—no one close to you will be spared—”
His words cut off. The Extreme Flame Greatsword sliced through all Lan Ke’s defenses effortlessly, cleaving him down the middle as smoothly as a hot knife through butter.
The moment he split in two, both halves ignited. The rampant gold-silver fire swiftly charred each portion to cinders, which scattered on the wind.
“…”
Yan Zhen frowned slightly, slowly withdrawing his mystic power. The flaming greatsword’s blade dissipated, leaving only the hilt-like Mystic Artifact Embryo in his grasp.
He staggered, a wave of fatigue washing over him. He quickly fished a mystic power recovery pill from his storage ring and popped it into his mouth.
Shaping gold-silver fire into a sword via the Mystic Artifact Embryo was incredibly powerful, but maintaining the infusion drained his mystic power fast.
Moreover, though he’d controlled the gold-silver fire’s might, it still exceeded his limits. The hand clutching the embryo was badly scorched, stabbing with heart-wrenching pain.
Burns from Extreme Flame weren’t something ordinary salve could fix. He’d need the beautiful master for that.
With that thought, Yan Zhen turned to leave. After two steps, he couldn’t help glancing back at the carnage. A surge of intense nausea hit him, leaving him dizzy.
He shook his head and leaped onto the rooftop, speeding back home.
Not long after he left, Aunt Mu emerged from the alley shadows, a flicker of shock in her beautiful eyes.
“An Eight-Star Mystic Practitioner unscathed against three Mystic Scholars’ ambush, counter-killing them all… Extreme Flame lives up to the hype. The question is how he wields it so proficiently.”
Aunt Mu gazed at Yan Zhen’s departing back but didn’t pursue. She retraced her steps to the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce.
Unaware of Aunt Mu’s watch, Yan Zhen spotted Mentor Yu Xuan approaching as he neared home.
She still wore her water-blue gown, clearly waiting.
“Yan Zhen, are you alright?”
He managed a pale smile, half-truthfully replying, “Nothing major. Just ran into some shady guys and had a scrap.”
Weak aura, ashen face, and he called that “nothing”?
Mentor Yu Xuan’s heart ached. She linked her arm with his left and walked him home.
They had just opened the gate when four women stood there together, eyes scrutinizing the pair.
Mentor Yu Xuan startled and quietly released Yan Zhen’s arm, chiding, “Why are you all standing here? Nearly scared me to death.”
“Heehee, we wanted to welcome you and Cousin back with a surprise!”
After Yan Meng’er spoke, Mi Xue’er chimed in, “Was the auction fun? Did you buy us any gifts?”
Staring at their sweet smiles, Yan Zhen zoned out briefly. The nauseous urge to vomit eased a touch.
He blinked, snapping back to his senses, and smiled faintly.
“I did buy gifts—one for each of you. But I’m pretty wiped out right now. Can we do presents tomorrow?”
“Really? Thanks, Cousin~”
“Thanks, little brother Yan Zhen~ Or I could just crash in your room and stay up all night till morning!”
Mi Xue’er’s brain worked in remarkable ways.
“Xue’er~”
“…So shameless.”
Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan spoke up one after another from nearby. The two women turned toward Yan Zhen, eyeing him closely.
“What’s wrong with you, Yan Zhen?”
“You don’t look so good. Are you coming down with something?”
Yan Zhen shook his head to show he was fine.
“Just worn out from all that bidding. Listening to those big spenders rattle off numbers like it was nothing sent my blood pressure skyrocketing—especially that annoying jerk.”
All four women had sneaked into the auction house. Remembering how Yan Zhen had gone toe-to-toe with Lan Ke, and how the young city lord had cracked under the pressure, they couldn’t help a faint smile.
“Sigh, enough chatter. I’m heading back to crash. You all get some rest too.”
Yan Zhen waved them off and staggered back to his room. He shut the door behind him with a casual flick.
Leaning his head against the door, his breathing grew ragged. Flashes of the Extreme Flame Greatsword piercing through those two four-star Mystic Scholars and cleaving Lan Ke in two kept assaulting his mind.
—A little nauseating.
Gritting his teeth against the discomfort, he stripped off his clothes piece by piece. Then he opened the wardrobe, slipped into a clean short-sleeved nightshirt, and activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal to enter the Crystal Stone Space.
Atop the altar, Chen Xi—who had been meditating with her eyes closed—opened them as he arrived. She spoke in a warm tone.
“Zhen’er, come sit by your master.”
Yan Zhen obeyed, settling cross-legged beside his beautiful master.
“Good evening, Master.”
“Mmm. Give me your hand.”
Like a child who’d gotten into mischief, he instinctively offered his uninjured left hand. But his beautiful master gave it a gentle tap.
“Your right hand.”
With no choice, Yan Zhen extended his burned right hand.
Chen Xi lifted it to her lips. Her glossy red lips pursed slightly as she blew softly on the wound.
The burn from the Extreme Flame healed in an instant.
“Thank you, Master.”
Chen Xi reached out with her slender fingers and gently stroked her precious disciple’s head. Her exquisitely beautiful face brimmed with maternal affection.
“Zhen’er, if you’re feeling unwell, tell your master. I’ll share your pain.”
Yan Zhen froze for a moment. Then the scenes replayed in his mind once more—the two four-star Mystic Scholars skewered on his blade, Lan Ke torn apart. The emotions he’d been suppressing came surging back.
“Master… I killed people. They were trying to take my life, so I took theirs.”
He hung his head, a wave of sadness washing over him.
Chen Xi soothed him.
“You did right, Zhen’er. Anyone who harbors murderous intent first is never innocent. Those who kill must be ready to be killed themselves.”
“I know, but… taking someone’s life with my own hands? It doesn’t feel good at all.”
“It’s not supposed to. But you have to get used to it—otherwise, the one who dies will be you. Zhen’er, your master wants you to stay alive. Always by my side. Do you understand?”
“Yeah. I want to stay with you forever too, Master—always spoiled and pampered by you.”
Yan Zhen planted his hands on the ground and nuzzled his head against her tender jade hand, acting a bit coquettish.
Chen Xi’s heart melted. She wrapped an arm around her precious disciple’s slender waist and guided him to lie back, pillowing his head on her lap.
“Silly boy. Your master will pamper you right now.”
Yan Zhen didn’t resist. Resting comfortably on his beautiful master’s jade thighs, he closed his eyes in bliss.
In the enveloping darkness, Yan Zhen felt his true self breaking free—growing stronger under her guiding hand.
A sudden thirst gripped him. He yearned to devour something, anything, to replenish the energy his body craved.
Before long, a familiar tender fruit was slipped into his mouth—like a peeled grape. One gentle bite released a flood of fragrant, warm, sweet nectar.
He devoured it eagerly, mouthful after mouthful, until his belly was full. Then he drifted into a deep, sound sleep.
