Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

213: Chapter 213: Cultivating in Seclusion in the Abyss of Fiends, Surrounded by WolvesNangong Xuan took Su Muxue and Zi Linger, transforming into a sword rainbow as their speed soared to the limit, leaving the troubled area of the Bing Qi Fissure without stopping. The commotion from the star Core devouring the mutated energy had been too great and was bound to attract countless eyes; staying there now would be asking for trouble.

They fled nearly a hundred miles in one breath, until they reached a more desolate area filled with massive black lava pillars and deep fissures. There, Nangong Xuan found a hidden, narrow crevice formed naturally by several fallen stone pillars and pulled the two women inside.

As soon as they landed, Nangong Xuan couldn’t help but groan. He sat cross-legged, his face flushing red as his aura fluctuated violently. Red and black energies seemed to be clashing fiercely beneath his skin. The energy fed back by the star Core was too massive and chaotic, containing both pure Fire Baleful Qi and the foul evil energy from the mutated fissure. Even with the profound balance of the four keys and the overbearing power of his Nirvana Sword Intent, it was difficult to fully refine it all at once.

”Nangong!” ”Brother Xuan!”

Seeing this, Su Muxue and Zi Linger ignored their own injuries and immediately stood guard on either side of him.

Su Muxue’s hands formed Seals, and cold moonlight poured down like liquid silver, enveloping Nangong Xuan. She did her best to soothe the rampaging energy within him and slow its impact. Zi Linger, despite the stinging pain in her Meridians, slowly channeled her remaining Life Force into Nangong Xuan’s body, helping to repair the tiny damages caused by the violent energy and harmonizing the heat with the deathly stillness.

Nangong Xuan closed his eyes tightly, circulating his Cultivation Technique with all his might. Within his Dantian, the four star keys rotated at an unprecedented speed. The phantom star key emitted spatial fluctuations, attempting to disperse the energy pressure; the sharp metal star key showed its edge, Cutting and refining the stubborn energy clumps; the water star key flowed with a blue halo, nourishing the damaged Meridians and working hard to purify the foulness within the energy; and the nirvana true seal fragment sat firmly in the center, radiating an absolute Concept of ”nothingness.” As the final Core, it forcibly suppressed all agitation, returning everything to nirvana.

The chaos star core in his arms fell into a deep silence after its feast, but a world-shaking transformation seemed to be occurring within it, occasionally transmitting a heart-palpitating fluctuation.

Time passed slowly amidst the ordeal.

It took a full two hours for the violent aura around Nangong Xuan to gradually calm down. His face returned to normal, though his brow remained slightly furrowed, as if he were still digesting something deeper.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them. His aura was significantly thicker and more condensed than before, only a step away from the Late Golden Core Stage.

”How are you?” Su Muxue asked with concern, her face somewhat pale from the consumption of spiritual power.

”I’m fine. A blessing in disguise—my cultivation has progressed quite a bit,” Nangong Xuan said in a deep voice, looking at the two women. ”And your injuries?”

”I’ve just overextended my spiritual power. A moment of meditation will suffice,” Su Muxue shook her head.

”I... I’m also fine. Just a bit of backlash, which I’ve suppressed,” Zi Linger added quickly, but Nangong Xuan still saw a hint of exhaustion in her eyes.

Nangong Xuan took out the Life Source Fruit obtained from the Wood Spirit Clan, cut a small slice for each of them, and handed it over. ”Take this and recover as quickly as possible. We can’t stay here for long; we need to leave soon.”

Knowing the situation was urgent, the two women did not refuse. They swallowed the fruit fragments, and the pure life energy quickly dissolved, nourishing their physical bodies and Divine Souls.

While the two women were meditating, Nangong Xuan sank his Divine Sense inward, carefully sensing the changes in the star Core and himself.

The star Core remained silent, but he could feel its essence had become somewhat heavier, and the boundaries of the chaotic ocean of energy within seemed to have expanded slightly. The most significant change was the dark gold patterns on its surface; originally pure dark gold, they now held a faint, lava-like crimson hue beneath the base color, with occasional, imperceptible flashes of black lightning.

His understanding of the Nirvana Sword Intent also seemed to have reached a higher level. In addition to the original annihilation and nothingness, it now possessed a hint of ”devouring” and ”refining” characteristics, especially against fire and dark-attributed energies, where the suppression effect was even more pronounced. The Nirvana Sword Intent had played a crucial role in refining that alien energy earlier.

”That mutated energy indeed contained a trace of the power from ’the dark side,’ and it was a mutation born from its combination with the subterranean Fire Baleful Qi...” Nangong Xuan felt a chill in his heart. ”The Heart of Molten Fire, or rather the disturbance in the Primordial Fire Eye, definitely has something to do with ’the dark side’!”

By then, Su Muxue and Zi Linger had also finished their meditation, and their complexions looked much better.

”We must speed up,” Nangong Xuan stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the desolate, crimson land outside the crevice. ”The star Core needs a large amount of fire smelting stones. Ordinary collection is too slow and easily triggers mutations like the one just now. We need to find a place where fire smelting stones are more concentrated, or... easier to obtain.”

He took out the Jade Slip containing the information once more and scanned it with his Divine Sense. Soon, he locked onto a specific marker.

”The map marks an area called the ’Fire Banyan Forest’ two hundred miles to the southwest. It’s said that an ancient fire banyan tree once grew there, bearing a type of ’Fire Banyan Fruit’ that contained pure fire elements. Later, the ancient tree died, but its roots reached deep into the ley lines, making the Fire Baleful Qi in that area exceptionally active. This led to the formation of many small and medium-sized fire fiend fissures, which are rich in fire smelting stones and may even yield higher-quality ’fire banyan stones’.”

”But it’s also marked as a high-danger zone,” Su Muxue reminded him. ”Not only because of the dense fissures, but also because it’s inhabited by a pack of ’Fire Fiends.’ These Yao Beasts are violent by nature, skilled in manipulating fire, and live in groups.”

”Danger often comes with opportunity,” Nangong Xuan’s eyes were firm. ”The growth of the star Core is vital to us. Moreover, with the fissures being so dense, we might be able to avoid most other trial-takers. Fire Fiends are strong, but they’re simpler to deal with than humans with their treacherous schemes.”

The decision made, the three didn’t delay and immediately set off, cautiously sneaking toward the southwest.

The deeper they went into the Forging Fire Path, the harsher the environment became. The earth seemed completely scorched, and the flames erupting from the cracks carried eerie blue or even black colors. A scorching baleful wind that could erode Divine Sense began to permeate the air, greatly reducing their detection range.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of Cultivators. Some were in a hurry, heading straight for their targets; others were clearly ill-intentioned, watching from a distance. However, after sensing the formidable aura of Nangong Xuan’s group—especially Nangong Xuan’s sharp Sword Intent that hadn’t been fully restrained after his Breakthrough—most chose to retreat.

However, not everyone was so sensible.

Just as they were crossing a stone forest formed by twisted black rocks, several sounds of breaking air suddenly rang out around them!

Swish, swish, swish!

Seven figures flashed out from behind the rocks like ghosts, taking up positions to surround the three of them. These people wore uniform dark red tight-fitting clothes with a fierce wolf head pattern embroidered on their chests. Their eyes were cruel, their auras savage, and their cultivation was at least at the Middle Golden Core Stage. The leader, a One-armed Elder, radiated the powerful fluctuations of the Peak Golden Core Stage, and the crimson scimitar in his hand emitted a bloodthirsty light.

”Blood Wolf Gang!” Su Muxue whispered in alarm, her expression changing slightly. She had heard of this Gang in the taverns of Red Rock City; they were a notorious bandit group in the Southern Wilderness, known for their cruel methods and vengeful nature.

”Hehe, you have some eyes,” the One-armed Elder sneered, his single eye greedily sweeping over Su Muxue and Zi Linger. ”I’ve been watching you for a long time. You came from the Bing Qi Fissure, didn’t you? To cause such a stir and still escape unscathed, you must have pocketed quite a few good things. If you’re smart, hand over the fire smelting stones and your storage artifacts. Then, let these two little ladies have some fun with my brothers, and maybe I’ll spare your dog lives!”

The other six members of the Blood Wolf Gang also let out lewd laughs, their weapons glinting with cold light as their baleful aura locked onto the three.

Nangong Xuan’s eyes instantly became as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. He was in urgent need of fire smelting stones and hadn’t expected someone to deliver them to his doorstep.

”Blood Wolf Gang? Never heard of them,” Nangong Xuan’s voice was flat, yet it carried a heart-chilling coldness. ”Perfect, it saves us the trouble of looking for Ores. Hand over your fire smelting stones, and then, get lost.”

The One-armed Elder froze as if he had heard a massive joke, then flew into a rage. ”Little brat, you’re looking for death! Attack! Chop the man into pieces to feed the Fire Fiend Qi, and catch the women alive!”

The seven thugs erupted simultaneously, their fierce attacks instantly enveloping the three! Sword light, fire snakes, poison darts... they came from all directions with practiced coordination and extreme ruthlessness!

”Courting death!”

Nangong Xuan snorted coldly, not even drawing his sword. He pointed his fingers like a sword and made a light horizontal stroke!

A grey, deathly Sword Gang with a hint of chaotic red light at its edges appeared out of thin air. It was silent, yet it seemed capable of slicing through heaven and earth!

Chii, chii, chii, chii—!

The incoming sword light, fire snakes, and poison darts, upon contact with the grey Sword Gang, instantly melted, decomposed, and turned into nothingness like snow under a scorching sun! The Sword Gang’s momentum didn’t slow as it acted like a reaper’s scythe, slicing across the necks of the two Blood Wolf Gang members charging at the front!

The sneers on their faces froze instantly, their eyes filled with unbelievable terror. Then, their heads soared into the sky. Before the blood could even spray, most of it was evaporated by the scorching Sword Intent!

Instant kill!

And they were two Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivators!

The remaining five Blood Wolf Gang members, including the One-armed Elder, suddenly halted their offensive, their faces filled with horror!

What kind of Sword Intent was this?! It was actually this terrifying!

”This guy is tough! Form the array!” The One-armed Elder was a desperate criminal after all; his shock was followed by a frantic roar.

The remaining five quickly drew together, their auras connecting as they formed a simple battle array. Their power doubled instantly, and a crimson wolf phantom appeared above their heads, letting out a silent roar as its ferocity surged.

”Like an ant trying to stop a carriage.”

Nangong Xuan’s face was expressionless as he took a step forward, his figure instantly blurring. The Nirvana Sword Domain opened silently, enveloping a ten-zhang radius!

Within the Domain, all was silent. All energy, sound, and light seemed to be devoured and annihilated by that absolute ”nothingness”! The light of the battle array formed by the five Blood Wolf Gang members flickered violently, and the wolf phantom let out a pained wail, instantly becoming dim and illusory!

Su Muxue and Zi Linger didn’t even have a chance to act.

Nangong Xuan’s figure flashed several times within the Sword Domain like a ghost.

Puchi, puchi, puchi! Three more heads flew! The battle array was instantly shattered!

Only the One-armed Elder and another thin, small Cultivator remained. Their souls were scared out of their bodies, and they no longer had any will to fight. With strange cries, they turned and tried to flee.

”Leave your things.” Nangong Xuan’s cold voice sounded like a soul-chasing demon. He made a grasping motion in the air, and his Nirvana Sword Intent transformed into two invisible hands, instantly seizing their necks. Powerful Sword Intent surged into their bodies, sealing their Dantians!

Crack! With a casual twist, he snapped the thin Cultivator’s neck and tossed the corpse aside like trash. Then, his cold gaze fell upon the trembling, deathly pale One-armed Elder.

”fire smelting stones, or death.”

The One-armed Elder was so terrified he soiled himself. He hurriedly tore off his own Storage Pouch and that of a companion, offering them with trembling hands. ”Spare... spare me... Senior, please spare me... everything is here...”

Nangong Xuan scanned with his Divine Sense. Indeed, there were nearly a hundred fire smelting stones of various sizes in the Storage Pouches, along with some miscellaneous Southern Wilderness specialties and Spirit Stones.

He took them without hesitation and looked coldly at the One-armed Elder. ”Get lost. If I see anyone from the Blood Wolf Gang again, I’ll kill every single one I find.”

The One-armed Elder felt as if he had been granted a massive amnesty. He scrambled away, vanishing into the depths of the stone forest in a pathetic state.

Nangong Xuan dispelled the Sword Domain, and the surrounding heat returned. He didn’t even look at the corpses on the ground as he handed the seized Storage Pouches to Su Muxue. ”Inventory these; keep what’s useful.”

Su Muxue and Zi Linger watched this scene, their hearts also feeling a chill. After the feedback from the star Core and this Breakthrough, Nangong Xuan’s strength had become even more unfathomable. Dealing with Cultivators of the same stage was almost like Cutting grass.

After this battle, it would surely deter many of the small fries watching from the shadows.

The harvest was plentiful, but the sense of urgency in Nangong Xuan’s heart didn’t diminish. He looked toward the southwest, where the dangers and opportunities of the Fire Banyan Forest awaited.

”Let’s go. To the Fire Banyan Forest.”