Chapter 280: Fire Cloud

Chapter 280: Fire Cloud

A little bug flew into his disciple’s eye.

Of course, he had to blow it out.

Chen Huaian didn’t really think about what kind of bug could get into the eye of a Golden Core cultivator. He took two steps closer, then suddenly paused—not because he figured anything out, but because he was worrying about what he ate for lunch, and whether his breath would smell.

Other cultivators at the Qi Refining stage would’ve already started fasting in a half-hearted way—if you didn’t eat, you didn’t poop, which was a step toward a “pseudo” impervious body.

But Chen Huaian couldn’t accept a life without food.

Living without cola and fried chicken would basically kill him.

He’d had wontons for lunch and tofu pudding for dinner.

Not a big deal.

Chen Huaian inched a little closer.

Li Qingran also quietly took half a step forward, closing the distance between them to the absolute minimum.

Mo Shumei had said it: take the initiative, take control into your own hands.

Right now, her Master was at his most vulnerable moment under the influence of the world's power—it was also her best chance to get close to him.

She could tell just from the way he looked at her.

Her Master wasn’t some cold, unfeeling stone.

He could be stunned by a beautiful girl too.

It was just that his strong cultivation suppressed those desires.

Now she was at the Golden Core stage, while her Master was only at the ninth layer of Qi Refining...

It was the perfect opportunity!

Charge——!

Chen Huaian leaned down, holding his breath. "Where’s the bug? I don’t see anything..."

His voice was low but slightly trembling.

He could see the tiny, delicate hairs on Li Qingran’s face and his own reflection in her slightly dewy eyes.

"It’s, um... a really tiny bug. Maybe you should get even closer?"

Li Qingran suggested sweetly.

Get even closer?

Chen Huaian’s heart gave a violent thump.

If he got any closer, his nose would be touching her forehead—wouldn’t that be way too much?!

But whatever.

Since it was Li Qingran’s request...

Chen Huaian slowly leaned in, his breath growing increasingly unsteady.

Li Qingran, staring at her Master's blushing face, gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, secretly calculating the distance.

If she just stood on tiptoe, she would be at the same height as him.

Then she could pretend to lose her balance—like she stumbled on a rock—and use the momentum to crash into him.

That’s what Mo Shumei had taught her too—don’t overthink it, just make sure you get physically close first.

As long as she could kiss him—even if it was just a light brush—she could use that as an excuse to cling to him afterward.

"I still don’t see any bug..."

Chen Huaian’s nose was now just a hair’s breadth from Li Qingran’s forehead.

Her bright, clear eyes—where the hell was a bug supposed to hide in there?

Besides, seriously—this was a Golden Core cultivator. What kind of bug could possibly pull this off?!

Reality hit him.

Meanwhile, after a brief moment of hesitation, Li Qingran finally tiptoed forward.

"Ah~"

She faked a twisted ankle and fell toward him.

The two of them instantly collided—

Except...

Li Qingran passed right through him.

Chen Huaian: “...”

Li Qingran: “...”

Chen Huaian stood there, completely motionless.

Li Qingran was stuck one-third of the way through his projection, frozen mid-fall.

The buzzing insects around them seemed to fall silent.

The air grew scarily still.

"Uh, Li Qingran..."

Chen Huaian broke the silence first:

"I’m just saying, you know, since this is a projection descending into the world, a bug really shouldn’t be able to fly into your eye.

Is there a chance that... it’s your real body—"

"Master, p-please don’t talk right now..."

Li Qingran lowered her head, her face flushing crimson. Even the tips of her ears turned bright red.

Her eyes darted around frantically, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Alright, alright, this venerable one won’t speak."

Chen Huaian scratched his nose, obediently shutting up.

Inside his Dantian, his Dragon Soul gleamed brilliantly.

He once again felt a call from deep within the mountain, this time even more urgent than before.

It was like someone was crying out for help.

But compared to when he first arrived at Taishan, the location of the call was much less clear.

It felt like it was coming from everywhere at once—no matter which way he went, it was like running around like a headless chicken.

Couldn’t they give him a better hint or something?

"ROAR——!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar exploded nearby.

It sounded like a lion’s roar, amplified a thousand times over, full of rage and killing intent.

Chen Huaian looked up and saw a fire cloud rushing toward them at high speed, instantly dyeing half the sky red.

"Don’t let that beast get away!" a cultivator shouted.

"Beast, stop right there!"

Several figures flew after the fire cloud, soaring through the sky.

Under the fire cloud, many figures moved through the forest below.

The ones flying were Foundation Establishment cultivators—or "Ascenders" as they liked to call themselves.

The ones running on the ground were all Qi Refining cultivators—about dozens of people chasing after the fire cloud.

The fire cloud spiraled in the sky.

At first, it was heading west, but suddenly, it sharply turned east—right toward Chen Huaian and Li Qingran.

"Oh sh*t!"

Seeing the fire cloud barreling toward them, Chen Huaian felt an impending sense of doom.

Even though it was injured, the aura it gave off was something he definitely couldn’t handle right now.

"Master, please stay behind me."

Li Qingran stepped in front of Chen Huaian. Her Su Xian Sword unsheathed, her eyes sharp and focused.

Her whole presence radiated sword intent and killing intent, fierce and domineering.

At that moment, she was no longer the shy little disciple blushing in front of her Master—but a finely honed blade.

【Sir, save me!】

A weak voice echoed in Chen Huaian’s mind.

His gaze locked onto the fire cloud—he instantly knew the voice’s source.

"Qingran, let that fire cloud in."

"Yes, Master!"

Li Qingran didn’t hesitate.

Although the fire cloud was thick with demonic energy, it carried no killing intent toward her or her Master.

It was obvious the creature recognized Chen Huaian and had fled toward him on purpose.

The fire cloud swooped to a stop in front of Chen Huaian, then shrank rapidly, turning into a tiny red star that zipped into Chen Huaian’s Dantian.

The cultivators chasing it quickly arrived at the scene.

They didn’t see the fire cloud vanish into Chen Huaian.

All they knew was that once they got here, the fire cloud was gone.

"Hey! You two!

Did you see a Vermillion Phoenix Fire Cloud Snake pass through here?"

The leader barked.

He wore a short robe that mixed traditional and modern elements—like sneakers paired with ancient-styled clothes.

Definitely someone from a hidden sect.

Chen Huaian shook his head. "Didn’t see any phoenix-snake-whatever. Just a fire cloud flew overhead and disappeared on the other side of the mountain."

"Really?"

The man squinted suspiciously, his gaze falling on Li Qingran.

His eyes lit up with amazement.

What a beautiful girl!

Way prettier than those so-called beauties who’d been cultivating in sects for ten years.

The difference was like man-made jade versus a masterpiece sculpted by nature itself.

"Which sect are you Ascenders from?"

He tilted his chin arrogantly. "I’m Luo Yun, personal disciple of Zhengyi Sect. We’re hunting down a King-level beast. Why don’t you two team up with us? It’s safer, and you’ll get a share of the points."

The number of people each hidden sect could send to the Monster Hunting Tournament varied depending on the sect’s strength.

Seeing only two of them, Luo Yun assumed they were from some small sect—easy to push around.

"Heh, no thanks. We’re used to working alone. Wouldn’t want to trouble you."

Chen Huaian politely cupped his hands.

He needed to study the fire cloud, and getting entangled with these people would just be a waste of time.

Luo Yun’s face darkened. "What’s the matter? Are you looking down on our Zhengyi Sect?"

Before he finished speaking, the other cultivators from Zhengyi behind him all wore unfriendly expressions, clearly ready to start something.

Chen Huaian paused, the polite smile vanishing from his face, replaced by a benevolent, almost grandfatherly grin.

"Alright then.

This venerable one will 'look up' to you."

If you don’t drink the wine offered nicely, you’ll have to drink the punishment wine.

Chen Huaian’s face turned cold.

From between his teeth, a single word shot out like a knife:

"Kill—!"

...

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