Chapter 42: The Azure Lotus Flame, Dominant Hu Yunying, and Intimidating Pressure

"Actually, you just want to ride me, don't you?" Indeed, Ling Tian had always treated her well before, and she couldn't figure out the reason. But just now, Ling Tian almost instinctively glanced at her, then stood on her back. In that instant, she understood. Her guess, though outrageous, was the only explanation Xiao Ling'er could come up with.

"You, a young girl, why do you speak so bluntly? It's... it's rather indecent!" Ling Tian's lips twitched. It was true that he wanted to ride her, but Xiao Ling'er saying it so openly made him feel somewhat embarrassed. Riding and mounting clearly have different meanings!

"So you admit it, then?" Xiao Ling'er suddenly smiled. Though her eyes remained innocent, Ling Tian found himself unable to read her anymore.

"Are you trying to trick me?" Ling Tian looked at Xiao Ling'er and shook his head in response. This little girl was wise beyond her years—quiet one moment, then catching him off guard the next.

"I wasn't sure before, but now I am." Xiao Ling'er stepped back a few paces and nodded.

"And you..." Ling Tian hesitated, unsure of Xiao Linger's intentions behind these words.

"If you want to ride me, you must pay me with lots of delicious food!" Xiao Ling'er widened her eyes, stating her condition with utmost seriousness.

Yet, for Ling Tian, this wasn't much of a demand. As long as he had food, Xiao Ling'er would have something to drink.

"Tch, I'm afraid that's not all, is it?" Ling Tian looked deeply at Xiao Ling'er, but didn't expose her thoughts. "Still, since you've chosen to follow me, I'll certainly treat you well."

Just as Ling Tian said, Xiao Ling'er had her own ideas. When her bloodline manifested outwardly, she realized she couldn't stay with her father for long lest it trouble him. Besides loving tasty food, she was actually more sensible than her peers. Following Ling Tian might not be a bad choice.

There was another reason—staying with Ling Tian would allow her to meet her mother sooner. If her father had the means, he would have sought her mother out already. She had seen him sighing alone before her mother's portrait many times. If she cultivated on her own, who knew how many years it would take before she could see her mother. But staying with Ling Tian was different.

Ling Tian had never mistreated her; in fact, he had been exceptionally kind. Now, with the demon clan’s mark on her, following Ling Tian was her best protection—a perfect choice. She would not leave Ling Tian’s side, at least not until the demon clan’s mark within her was eliminated.

She had already intended to follow Ling Tian, and now she had no choice. Otherwise, the demon clan would surely make life difficult for the Divine Flame Sect.

"Where are we going now?" Xiao Ling'er took out a piece of candy, popped it into her mouth, and looked at Ling Tian. Now that everything was clear, she would follow Ling Tian wherever he led.

"Where? Let’s go to that place and visit an old acquaintance." Ling Tian narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance through layers of dense forest, as if he could see a young man with only one arm left...

"Master, I understand, the Qinglian Flower only appears at night, but can’t we heal my wounds first?" Yan Chen hid behind a rock in the valley, grumbling. His severed left arm hadn’t been treated yet, and he felt he was losing too much blood.

"This is good for you—you can keep your wits about you. Besides, if I use all my remaining strength to heal you, will you even be able to subdue the Qinglian Flame later?" Shen Yan cast a rueful glance at Yan Chen, feeling that his disciple’s mind might have been beaten senseless.

Yan Chen glanced at Shen Yan’s illusory lower half and swallowed bitterly, saying no more.

"Shh, someone’s coming." Shen Yan narrowed his eyes, sending a mental warning to Yan Chen.

Yan Chen held his breath, uncertain who it could be. Was it Ling Tian? If so, things might not look good. But when he looked, it was an ethereal woman in white, exuding a commanding presence and an aura of pride.

"The Qinglian Flame is really here!" Hu Yunying’s face lit up with joy. She had come for the legendary flame of the Heavenly Rankings.

A brief note—the Flame Rankings are divided into Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow levels.

"Master..." Yan Chen saw the woman's expression and immediately realized she must also be here for the rare flame.

"Don’t panic! When a rare flame emerges, so does a rare beast. She’ll suffer for it. Good, we’ll just sit here and profit from her misfortune." Shen Yan shook his head. His disciple still lacked composure. Both of the rare flames had been brought by him; strictly speaking, this was the first flame Yan Chen would attempt to subdue. A little rashness was only natural.

Soon, green light illuminated the surroundings, and a Qinglian slowly bloomed. The flame was gentle and pure, seemingly capable of burning away all ailments.

A low growl from a beast sounded nearby, and soon several beasts at the ninth level of the King rank surrounded the flower. Naturally, lesser beasts lacked the qualification to compete for such a treasure.

"Hmph, you think you can stop me?" Hu Yunying snorted coldly, clearly unconcerned by their presence.

"Master, this woman is so arrogant!" Yan Chen’s eyes shone as he watched her, awed by her commanding aura. Xiao Ling'er was usually soft and gentle, never so imposing.

He admired her greatly.

"She has the strength for it," Shen Yan observed, as if seeing through everything, and commented quietly.

Yan Chen was still puzzled when Hu Yunying let out a shout. The ninth-level King beasts immediately prostrated themselves, terror in their eyes. In other words, this woman was not human! Her bloodline was far superior to theirs.

Hu Yunying glanced at them with disdain, then fixed her gaze on the Qinglian Flame. As the flower bloomed, a cluster of green fire flickered atop it.

"Finally, I’ve found it!" Hu Yunying moved forward to subdue it. She had chased many leads for Heavenly Flames, only to find nothing. She hadn’t expected to find such a rare treasure here.

"Resist? Submit to me!" Sensing resistance from the Qinglian Flame, Hu Yunying frowned and tried to force it into submission.

A moment later, she spat blood, her heart injured, her vision blurring, and she fainted on the spot.

The beasts stirred restlessly, and at that moment, Yan Chen emerged from behind the rock.

Shen Yan released a wave of pressure, scattering the beasts in all directions.

"You’re lucky, boy. Now that this woman is unconscious, if you were to... hehe..." Shen Yan walked over to Hu Yunying, took a look, then teased Yan Chen.

"Master, what are you talking about? How could I take advantage of her? Let’s hurry and subdue the Qinglian Flame!" Yan Chen glanced at Hu Yunying—her figure was indeed remarkable—but he wasn’t that kind of person.

Taking advantage of the helpless...

"You know her identity?" Shen Yan shook his head, lamenting that Yan Chen was just pretending to be virtuous. If he had a body, he would have seized such an opportunity—an alliance would mean faster cultivation.

"Her identity?" Yan Chen repeated, shaking his head.

"She’s from the White Tiger clan, her bloodline extraordinarily noble. The reason those beasts didn’t dare attack her is due to bloodline suppression. Her bloodline must be at least of the Saint rank!" Shen Yan revealed Hu Yunying’s secrets without reservation.

"Master, forget it—I can’t bring myself to do it. Let’s focus on subduing the Qinglian Flame." After a moment’s silence, Yan Chen sighed and refused.

"Don’t regret it, then. Let’s begin." Shen Yan didn’t force him and instead let Yan Chen prepare the materials for subduing the flame. They’d take the woman with them when they left—there was plenty of time. Yan Chen certainly wouldn’t leave an unconscious woman behind; that would hardly be honorable.

A tactical retreat.

Yan Chen took out materials from his storage ring to subdue the Qinglian Flame.

"Brother Yan Chen..." At that moment, a familiar voice called out, and Yan Chen turned without hesitation. In the next instant, the materials he’d taken out vanished. Shen Yan was so furious he nearly jumped—how did he end up with such a foolish disciple?

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind— but who is the oriole?" Ling Tian examined the materials in his hand, watching the pair with interest. They thought themselves the oriole, but in truth, he was the real oriole. It could only be said they’d celebrated too soon.

"Ling'er, you... you actually joined him to deceive me?" Yan Chen was stunned, looking at Xiao Ling'er in disbelief.

"I already know what you've done. I never expected you to be that kind of person!" Xiao Ling'er looked at Yan Chen, disappointment, anger, and astonishment mingling in her eyes. To kill Ling Tian, he had done such unforgivable things.

"Hahaha... Ling Tian, Ling Tian, this time you’re formidable—you win! The mountains and seas may part, but we’ll meet again. Next time, it will be your death!" Yan Chen laughed bitterly, his laughter desolate. He had lost, utterly and completely, with nothing left. Xiao Ling'er's attitude stirred no feelings in his heart; he was deeply disappointed in her.

"Master, the teleportation array—let’s go!" Yan Chen gritted his teeth and, without hesitation, turned to Shen Yan. Now that Ling Tian had taken the materials for subduing the Qinglian Flame, Yan Chen had lost his chance to compete for the rare flame. Staying would only mean death.

Shen Yan sighed, took out the hard-won teleportation array, and in a flash, left the Flame Domain’s secret realm.

From then on, there would be no more Divine Flame Sect’s Holy Son, Yan Chen.

"Guard me!" Ling Tian held the materials, his eyes shining as he looked at the Qinglian Flame. Though it wasn’t as powerful as the two rare flames Yan Chen possessed, it was still a Heavenly-ranked flame and would suffice for now, at least for his alchemy needs.

Thanks to Yan Chen’s meticulous preparation, Ling Tian subdued the Qinglian Flame with ease.

Ling Tian stood and approached Xiao Ling'er, his gaze sharp. He suddenly stepped forward, pulling Xiao Ling'er to his side and shielding her from Hu Yunying’s attack:

"Fellow Daoist, we have no grievances—what you’re doing now seems a bit inappropriate, don’t you think?"