Chapter 47: Ye Qingqiu

Page 1/3

Within the dim cavern, the beauty slowly dressed herself, her movements light and elegant, as if performing a silent dance. Her skin was as fair as creamy white jade, emitting an undeniable radiance even in the gloomy surroundings. Her demeanor was cool and pure, like a mountain spring, untouched by worldly dust. Her gaze was profound, seeming to see through souls, yet carried a trace of aloofness that made others hesitate to approach. She was like a snow lotus blooming alone atop a lofty peak, standing resilient against the cold wind.

Unwilling to have her purity defiled, unwilling to let her pride be trampled upon, her eyes flickered with fiery anger mingled with an undeniable shyness. She understood that the youth before her had not acted with ill intent but had sought to save her life. Yet, sometimes a girl’s innocence is more precious than life itself. Had it not been for unfinished wishes lingering in her heart, she would rather perish than bear such a sin.

“Our matter shall be but a dream,” she said, turning her back to Lin Fan. “After today, there will be no ties between us. Should I ever hear you boast of this to others, no matter where you hide, even at the ends of the earth, I will tear you apart.”

Having spoken, she prepared to leave. Just as she took a step, her jade-like hand was grasped. Her dark brows furrowed slightly, and a look of disgust flashed across her eyes. “Do you think that because we shared intimacy, you may defile me at will?”

Her aura surged violently, stronger than ever before, clearly having reached the late stage of the Yuan Mansion realm. Behind her, the youth showed no fear of such pressure. Lin Fan stared unblinkingly at her retreating figure. “I promised to take responsibility for you, to the very end. No matter what you think, I only want to know your name now.”

Through their encounter, Lin Fan not only refined the wild energy within her but, during their union, the energy from the Heavenly Furnace also fed back to her, enabling her to break through to the late stage of the Yuan Mansion realm. Although Lin Fan had yet to fully condense his Yuan Mansion, he sensed that soon he would cross the Divine Pill Secret Realm and officially become a master of the Yuan Mansion.

The cave was silent as a forest, their breaths slightly hurried, echoing softly within. After a long pause, the girl struggled free from his grasp, stepping forward and leaving behind a single word: “Ye Qingqiu.”

Ye Qingqiu! The name carried the profound meaning of autumn’s arrival, its clear tones soaring into the clouds. Such a beautiful name!

Page 2/3

Lin Fan watched Ye Qingqiu leave without trying to stop her. He knew well she was a woman of independent will. Her departure revealed the nobility and wildness inherent in her name. She was like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, drifting away yet leaving a deep mark in his heart.

I will not forget her!

Clenching his fist, Lin Fan’s gaze fell upon the crimson stain on the ground where her robe had fallen, silently vowing. After some time, when Gu Ningyun’s voice came from outside the cave, Lin Fan slowly rose, knowing that Ye Qingqiu had likely gone.

“Did you two really…” Gu Ningyun’s cheeks flushed slightly as she shyly glanced at Lin Fan, as if confirming a rumor.

Lin Fan shook his head helplessly, looking back at her. “We wasted quite some time. Let’s focus on updating the ring’s color first.”

“Oh...” Gu Ningyun realized her slip, quickly composing herself. “I, along with a few others, took this time to thoroughly search the nearby area. There’s a place that’s been quite lively lately. I think you’ll find it very interesting.”

“Really?” Lin Fan raised an eyebrow, curious to hear more.

“You’ve been searching for a beast fire belonging to a self-gestating beast, right? If the rumors are true, that place should harbor such a beast.”

“What?” Lin Fan’s rare excitement showed. “Are you sure?”

Having been at the testing ground for some time, this was the first news about beast fire—a crucial factor related to his cultivation surge. How could he not be thrilled?

“That area was once the site of a large sect in the southern wilderness—the Burning Flame Valley. It’s said many fire-elemental beasts dwell there, including one known as the Black-Eyed Fire Flood Dragon, a self-gestating beast fire creature.”

Black-Eyed Fire Flood Dragon! Lin Fan’s expression flickered with wild joy. This beast was a seventh-rank fire elemental beast, rumored to possess a trace of ancient flame dragon bloodline. Its self-gestating beast fire, while far inferior to the flame dragon’s flames, was still much stronger than ordinary fire beasts.

“But don’t get ahead of yourself. I don’t know what you intend to do with the beast fire, but for alchemists, it’s vital. Mastering this fire greatly enhances the quality of their elixirs and is key to reaching higher levels. Many top-tier alchemists have refined beast fire before. The testing ground hosts many who specialize in alchemy, so this beast fire’s allure to them is no less than to you.”

Page 3/3

Heeding Gu Ningyun’s warning, Lin Fan nodded solemnly. “This beast fire is a must-have for me. When I learned there were many beasts here, I hoped to encounter a self-gestating beast fire. Now that I have news, I will go there. Miss Ningyun, I know you must manage the team’s ring energy, so let me go alone to the Burning Flame Valley ruins.”

Lin Fan’s words drew an exasperated glare from Gu Ningyun. The girl scolded with mock anger, “What nonsense! Since you’re part of my team, I must consider your future. Besides, if not for you, our team would have long since dwindled. Burning Flame Valley was once a famous sect in the southern wilderness with plenty of treasures. If we can find some, it might benefit us for life.”

Lin Fan felt deeply moved. He understood that Gu Ningyun’s words were meant to dissuade him from facing potential dangers alone. Warmth surged in his heart as he looked at her meaningfully. “Then let us set out.”

“All right, I will gather the others and prepare to head to the Burning Flame Valley ruins.”

Two days later, after traversing the misty swamp, the party finally arrived at the area where the Burning Flame Valley ruins lay, led by Gu Ningyun. The site was a blackened plain scorched by fierce flames, surrounded by partially collapsed cliffs and rocks, forming a peculiar canyon landscape. The charred ground was scattered with cooled lava and volcanic ash, and occasional geothermal vents steamed in the open plain.

The air carried a scorching heat, lingering despite the passage of time, imposing an invisible pressure. The concentration of fire elements far exceeded normal areas, making this an excellent sacred place for practitioners cultivating fire-elemental techniques. Standing on this scorched earth, Lin Fan could feel the dormant fire elemental energy in the air, as though countless fire spirits were calling to him.

“Where might that Black-Eyed Fire Flood Dragon be?” Lin Fan murmured, eyes shining with anticipation.

Gu Ningyun nodded, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. She sensed the tremendous power beneath the earth and the lurking dangers. Just as she prepared to warn them, a massive beast burst forth from the ground. Its entire body seemed forged from pure flame, and its burning eyes shone terrifyingly in the darkness. It opened its enormous mouth, spewing a scorching torrent of fire high into the sky.

“A seventh-rank beast, Fire Abyss Flame Lizard!”