Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 280: Soldier fiend spirit fire [2]

Risk and Opportunity coexist.

That Soldier Soul likely has Nascent Soul strength, and combined with the perilous environment, the danger is immense.

But his own strength has greatly increased, the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Art is nearing Perfection, his Physical Body is formidable, his Chaos Spiritual Power is profound, and he has two trump cards: the "battle heaven axe" and "Old Jin"; he might not be without a chance to fight.

If he could help Crimson Phoenix obtain the soldier fiend spirit fire, not only would he get the promised reward and forge an alliance with a formidable (albeit ill-tempered) ally, but he might also gain other benefits, such as... observing the process of subduing the exotic fire, which might provide inspiration for his own Chaos Evolution Dao.

More importantly, he had a faint feeling that deep within this Valley of Buried Soldiers, there might be hidden secrets related to himself.

The attraction of that Chaos Qi to the Geng Metal Origin, the ancient Restrictions in the stone chamber... perhaps this place had some unknown connection to the Chaos Derivation Art he had obtained.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao raised his head and looked at Crimson Phoenix with calm and firm eyes: "Alright. I am willing to lend you a hand. But I have a few conditions."

"Speak," Crimson Phoenix said straightforwardly.

"First, during the operation, you and I must share information completely and not hide any dangers. Second, if we encounter insurmountable danger, I have the right to protect myself and retreat. Third, if we succeed, you must first fulfill your promise, share the information, and distribute the treasures. You must make a Heart Demon vow as proof," Fang Hao said clearly.

In the world of Cultivators, verbal promises are the least trustworthy.

Although a Heart Demon vow is not omnipotent, it at least has a certain binding force, especially for Cultivators who aspire to the Great Dao.

Crimson Phoenix frowned slightly.

Making a Heart Demon vow was undoubtedly a Restriction and a form of "bowing one’s head" for someone as proud and well-backgrounded as her.

But looking at Fang Hao’s calm yet unquestionable gaze, and thinking about the importance of the soldier fiend spirit fire to her, as well as the strength Fang Hao had shown that could influence success or failure, she finally nodded.

"Fine. I swear by my Heart Demon, if Fang Hao helps me obtain the ’soldier fiend spirit fire’, I will share all relevant information obtained with him and allow him priority in choosing other treasures guarded by the Soldier Soul. If I violate this vow, my cultivation will never advance, I will suffer the backlash of my Heart Demon, and my body and soul will perish!" Crimson Phoenix was straightforward, directly making the vow.

An invisible ripple passed by, and the vow was established.

Seeing this, Fang Hao also made a vow, promising to help to the best of his ability within his capabilities, not to proactively harm her, not to leak secrets, etc.

Once the vows were made, the relationship between the two changed from temporary allies who were wary of each other to something closer, at least having a basic foundation of trust.

"Since our goals are aligned, let us cooperate sincerely," Fang Hao said with a cupped-fist salute. "I wonder if you have more information about that ’Broken Blade Cliff’ and the Soldier Soul? How should we deal with it?"

Seeing Fang Hao so straightforward, Crimson Phoenix’s expression softened slightly.

She took out an ancient-looking Jade Slip from her storage Magic Treasure and handed it to Fang Hao: "This is a remnant map I obtained from an ancient text. It marks the general location of the Broken Blade Cliff and some related information, including my deductions about the possible abilities and weaknesses of the Soldier Soul. Take a look."

Fang Hao took the Jade Slip and submerged his Divine Sense into it.

The information in the Jade Slip was not much, but it was critical.

The Broken Blade Cliff was located in the deepest part of the Valley of Buried Soldiers, shaped like a mountain peak chopped off by a giant blade, where the Evil Qi condensed into liquid, making it one of the sources of Evil Qi in the valley.

The Soldier Soul was speculated to be the remnant of the personal divine weapon of that fallen mighty figure, fused with their residual obsession and the battlefield’s Evil Qi.

Its strength was extremely high, particularly skilled in Divine Soul attacks and controlling Evil Qi, and its physical attacks were also terrifying.

Its weakness might be something special related to that mighty figure that could suppress Evil Qi and fire-type energy, or... defeating it head-on with a stronger Divine Soul and purer power.

"Stronger Divine Soul... purer power..." Fang Hao was lost in thought.

His Chaos Spiritual Power contained everything and could be considered "pure" to some extent, and it also had a restraining effect on negative energies like Evil Qi.

As for the Divine Soul, he was guarded by a Chaos vortex, so he might be able to give it a try.

But to defeat a Nascent Soul-level Soldier Soul head-on? He was afraid he lacked the strength for that.

"I have a treasure that can significantly increase my resistance to Evil Qi and Divine Soul attacks for a short time, and also amplify the power of my innate true fire. It is the key to collecting the soldier fiend spirit fire," Crimson Phoenix continued.

"But activating this treasure takes time and cannot be disturbed. At that time, I will need you to be my Protector, to fend off the Soldier Soul and other potential interference. As long as you can hold off the Soldier Soul for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, I have a seventy percent chance of initially controlling the soldier fiend spirit fire. Then we can join forces to deal with the Soldier Soul or simply retreat."

"Protect you for the time it takes to burn an incense stick..." Fang Hao mused.

This task was not easy.

The difficulty of protecting Crimson Phoenix under the attack of a Nascent Soul-level Soldier Soul was imaginable.

"Rest assured, I won’t let you die in vain." Crimson Phoenix seemed to see Fang Hao’s concerns and took out two more things.

A Medicinal Pill the size of a dragon’s eye, ice-blue all over, emitting a chilling coldness, "This is the ’Ice Heart Soul-Suppressing Pill’, which can ensure your mind is not disturbed by Evil Qi and Divine Soul attacks within the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

She then took out a fiery red Talisman shaped like a feather, "This ’Fire Feather Escape Talisman’ contains a trace of my innate true fire. In a critical moment, it can be activated to turn into a fire escape, instantly fleeing a hundred miles, enough to escape the most dangerous area. After the matter is accomplished, both of these things will be yours."

Fang Hao looked at the ice-blue Medicinal Pill and the fiery red Talisman, sensing the pure energy contained within them.

This woman really went all out for the soldier fiend spirit fire.

With these two things, plus his own trump cards, holding off the Soldier Soul for the time it takes to burn an incense stick was not entirely hopeless.

"Alright!" Fang Hao no longer hesitated, put away the Jade Slip, and took the Medicinal Pill and the Talisman. "When the time comes, I will do my best. But if it becomes impossible..."

"If it becomes impossible, you can use the Fire Feather Talisman to escape on your own. I will never blame you," Crimson Phoenix added, her tone resolute.

Clearly, she had already prepared for the worst.

With the plan set, the two said no more.

After taking the Medicinal Pill and resting briefly (Fang Hao also took a recovery Medicinal Pill he had refined himself), they continued towards the deepest part of the Valley of Buried Soldiers, the forbidden area known as the "Broken Blade Cliff".

The deeper they went, the thicker and more ink-like the Evil Qi became.

The auditory hallucinations of the Soldier Soul’s roars and the clashing of metal became clearer, as if they were in the midst of that tragic ancient battlefield.

The weapon fragments scattered on the ground also became larger and more ferocious, some even retaining faint spiritual light fluctuations, obviously of high grade when they were intact.

The murderous and deathly silence permeating the air was almost suffocating.

Both of them were on high alert.

The light of the departing fire pearl in Crimson Phoenix’s hand was compressed to only cover a three-foot radius around her, and Fang Hao also operated the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Art to the extreme, with a faint platinum luster flowing on his body surface to resist the pervasive erosion of the Evil Qi.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, in the rolling gray-black Evil Qi ahead, a huge silhouette of a black cliff wall, steep as a knife and as if chopped off at the waist, faintly appeared.

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, mixed with despair, unwillingness, monstrous killing intent, and a trace of... scorching sharp energy, spread out from the direction of the cliff like a physical force.

"Broken Blade Cliff... we’ve arrived." Crimson Phoenix’s voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremor—it was excitement, and also solemnity.

Fang Hao also held his breath, looking at the black cliff wall that pierced through the gloomy clouds of Evil Qi like the fangs of a giant beast.

He could feel that there, extreme danger, but also amazing Opportunity, were waiting.

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Soldier Soul, soldier fiend spirit fire... let me see what kind of secrets are hidden deep in this Valley of Buried Soldiers.