The Red Flame Spirit Bird was in a pitiful state, covered in blood with many feathers shed, plummeting straight down.
When it saw a youth, the Red Flame Spirit Bird squinted for a closer look, then suddenly shrieked, trembling all over. Why did it have to meet this demon, and now it was hurtling toward his head!
The Red Flame Spirit Bird remembered this "demon" all too well. During the trial, it had been robbed of all trial tokens—hard-earned after staying up all night. Later, when breaking through to the Yunling Realm, it had hoped to avenge itself but was nearly slapped to death. The bird had long listed him as a foe not to be provoked.
A golden palm reached out. The Red Flame Spirit Bird squawked: "Stop! Don't hit me! Let's talk—let's talk peacefully!"
Dao Ling curled his lip, dodging aside. The bird crashed to the ground, trembling in pain as it spat out blood.
It scrambled up, flapping its wings to flee. If this demon robbed it, the loss would be huge—escape was urgent.
"Come back." Dao Ling grabbed its wing with lightning speed, pulling it over. "Why are you running?"
At this, the Red Flame Spirit Bird almost spat up old blood. Not running? Waiting for you to rob me? It whined pitifully: "Not running! Just... stretching my muscles."
As it spoke, it pretended to preen and pace elegantly, though inwardly it wailed, wounds oozing blood.
"What happened to you up there?" Dao Ling asked, gazing at the star river above.
"There's a supreme treasure up there! I accidentally fell—go grab it quickly!" The Red Flame Spirit Bird emphasized "supreme treasure," eager to be rid of him like a plague.
Dao Ling's eyes lit up. The bird's hidden gaze saw this, and it almost laughed, covering its beak with a claw.
But the next moment, Dao Ling leaped onto its back. "Hurry, take me up!"
The Red Flame Spirit Bird gaped, eyes reddening. Cursing its own loose tongue, it fumed: "Go up yourself!"
Mustering courage—after all, it was an ancient ferocious beast—it refused to be a mount. It shook its head like a rattle, defiant.
"I can't get up," Dao Ling glared, threatening, "If you don't fly or play tricks, see how I deal with you!"
"My injuries are too severe... I can't fly. Can't you use a flying treasure?" The bird collapsed, feigning weakness with blood trickling.
"Fine," Dao Ling nodded. The bird rejoiced, but its face turned green at his next words.
"Give me a flying treasure." Dao Ling held out his hand. He could see the star river's crushing pressure—only a flying treasure would do.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird trembled, cursing inwardly. It stammered: "I... I don't have one."
"Then fly! Now! No tricks!" Dao Ling's finger pressed against its neck.
Startled by the surging blood qi, the bird shivered and shot into the air toward the star river.
As they neared the top, a Star Flame emerged from the river. Before Dao Ling could collect it, the Red Flame Spirit Bird inhaled deeply, absorbing the flame. Starry firelight radiated from its body, boosting its aura.
Dao Ling was stunned, then realized: this bird must be a fire-attributed creature, born with a life-source fire that could grow.
"Quick, create a light shield! I'm too weak to fly higher," the bird panted, drenched in sweat.
Dao Ling's eyes blazed, tearing open a rift. The bird flew through.
The space within was vast and solemn. The floor consisted of star rivers, a stunning visual 冲击 (assault).
"What a great divine ability!" Dao Ling marveled. Paving paths with star rivers—only a supreme power could do this.
Even the palaces here were formed from star rivers, flowing with divine light and exuding astonishing aura.
"Want to cooperate? I know an alchemy room with ancient pills," the Red Flame Spirit Bird chirped, eyeing him.
"Alchemy room," Dao Ling's eyelids twitched. "Are the Star Flames leaking from there?"
"Yes, but it's not too dangerous." The bird hurried, fearing he'd shy away from the flames. To its surprise, Dao Ling urged it to move faster.
The bird surged like a red flame toward an area dense with Star Flames. Dao Ling peered into the depths, glimpsing a faint flame portal.
The temperature soared. The flame gate spat streams of fire, plunging them into a sea of blazing flames.
"So rich!" Dao Ling thrilled. These were the essence of Star Flames. Even without the origin flame, his Glazed Elixir Flame would grow mightily from absorbing them.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird gulped down flames, eyeing a youth sitting cross-legged ahead. A golden beast shadow—formed from flame—hovered around him, exuding dreadful majesty.
"Beast Fire, from a Golden Beast," Dao Ling mused. Golden Beasts were rare ancient fire-attributed ferocious beasts, their internal flames immensely powerful.
Then he realized with a start: the Golden Beast was absorbing a Star Flame—crystal-clear, like star divine jade, radiating extraordinary light. This might be the origin flame!
The seated youth opened his eyes at their arrival, glaring coldly at the Red Flame Spirit Bird: "Wretch, wasn't your lesson enough?"
He ignored Dao Ling entirely. The bird had clashed with him earlier and been wounded; its return enraged him.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird flared up, spitting red fire: "Don't be too arrogant! You're only a few realms higher!"
The youth's face darkened, fury rising. He was at a critical moment of absorbing the Star Flame origin. "If you seek death, I'll grant it!"
His gaze turned to Dao Ling. "I am Qing Yiyun. Leave."
The Red Flame Spirit Bird sneered, silent. It had brought Dao Ling to deal with this guy, but he was too arrogant, barking orders.
Dao Ling eyed the floating Star Flame origin, burning with desire. He felt its fire-attributed energy—hundreds of times richer than ordinary Star Flames, and incredibly spiritual. Absorbing it would drastically strengthen his Elixir Flame.
Qing Yiyun's face 阴沉 (gloomy) as Dao Ling ignored him, fixated on "his" flame. No one in the Star Academy didn't know Qing Yiyun—how dare this youth defy him?
"You're the first to ignore me. You'll regret this!" Qing Yiyun erupted, a golden beast shadow—his life-source Elixir Flame—swirling around him, shattering the air.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird snickered, gulping down flames to heal.
"Are you an alchemist?" Dao Ling asked. Apart from Ye Yun, this was the first alchemist he'd met. Absorbing this Beast Fire would also boost his Glazed Flame.
Since refining Copper Body Liquid, Dao Ling had felt his Flame lacked intensity. A stronger Flame would speed up herb refining.
"Yes, a peak 2nd-Rank Alchemist." Qing Yiyun preened, golden beast shadow twisting the air.
A peak 2nd-Rank—modest globally, but in the Star Academy, only elders surpassed him. Reaching 3rd-Rank would elevate his status drastically.
Dao Ling was surprised. His recent Soul-Strengthening Pills were peak 1st-Rank—this man was a level above.
"Considering you didn't know me, break your arm and leave," Qing Yiyun said coldly, ready to teach a lesson for Dao Ling's earlier attitude.
Dao Ling stared, then laughed: "You're fucking hilarious..."