The moment Tang Xiaoqi and Third Senior Sister Liu Yun returned to the inn room in Wanghai City from the East Sea Dragon Palace, they sensed something unusual. Inside the room, tea fragrance lingered. An elderly man in blue robes was leisurely sitting by the window, holding a cup of clear tea. His gaze, passing through the misty water vapor, carried aserene and detached serenity that sees through worldly affairs, falling upon them. Who else could it be but that reclusive and elusive Tianjizi.
Little friend, it has been a while. You seem well. Tianjizi smiled faintly. His voice was peaceful, yet seemed to resound directly in the depths of one's heart. The East Sea journey was quite fruitful. The Dragon Palace banquet was magnificent. What is rarer is that little friend has formed a beneficial connection with the Dragon Clan. This will be a great help in the future.
Xiao Qi's heart was deeply vigilant. He and his Third Senior Sister exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes. Their journey had been extremely secretive. Their return was even more quiet and invisible. Yet this Tianjizi seemed to have witnessed it personally, even describing the Dragon Palace banquet details incisively. This ability to predict the future was truly unfathomable.
Your divine calculations are masterful, Senior. I am truly impressed. Xiao Qi clasped his fist to bow respectfully. His attitude was respectful, yet his heart was secretly on guard. This person's every appearance was accompanied by major turning points and unpredictable risks.
Tianjizi set down his teacup. His gaze passed over the jade pendant at Xiao Qi's waist, its radiance contained, with Four Symbols shadows faintly flowing. He nodded slightly. The Azure Dragon has taken its place. Water nourishes all living things. You have obtained three of the Four Symbols, little friend. You are one step closer to uncovering the secrets of that ancient demon-sealing formation.
His expression turned slightly grave. However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. You have consecutively obtained the White Tiger and Azure Dragon Soul Crystals, and made a splendid showing at the Dragon Palace. Your movements were not small. Shadow Serpent Pavilion is neither deaf nor mute. The existences behind them are even more perceptive. Now, your portrait and identity as the Purifying Source inheritor have likely spread throughout Shadow Serpent Pavilion. They have set their sights on you.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun's brow tightly furrowed. She could not help but speak. Senior, Shadow Serpent Pavilion has vast influence and claws everywhere. How will they act next.
Tianjizi stroked his long beard. A trace of fatigue from deducing heavenly secrets flickered in his eyes. Open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows are hard to prevent. They might mobilize experts to intercept and kill along the way. They might use the complex situation in the Southern Frontier to kill indirectly. Even worse, they might find ways to pollute and detonate the ground fire in the Southern Frontier, creating a catastrophe, luring you into a trap, then encircle and annihilate you. The path ahead will be ten times more perilous than the East Sea or Northern Plains.
The atmosphere in the room immediately turned heavy. The sea breeze outside the window seemed to carry a killing intent.
Xiao Qi was silent for a moment, yet his eyes grew even more determined. He touched the warm jade pendant at his chest, feeling the vast power and faint resonance within from the three soul crystals. Many thanks for the Senior's warning. But the soul crystals concern the demon-sealing formation and saving all living things. They are even more the key to solving the mystery of my origins and finding my father. Even if the path ahead leads through dragon's pools and tiger's dens, I shall never retreat.
Tianjizi looked at the unwavering determination in his eyes and nodded approvingly. A firm Dao heart can cut through all obstacles. This old man's appearance this time is precisely to point you toward the next step. He stretched out his finger and drew in the air. Spiritual light gathered and actually outlined a blurry map image. One region within was marked with intense red. The final Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal resonates with its aura at the Molten Fire Heart deep within the Southern Frontier Ten Thousand Mountains. That is where the ancient divine beast Vermillion Bird presumably fell. Ground fire has burned eternally for ten thousand years, forming unique volcanic clusters and molten rock secret realms.
In the image, volcanoes erupted. Lava flowed everywhere. Countless strange fire-elemental creatures dwelt within. Furthermore, figures of Southern Frontier cultivators wearing bizarre clothing and with ferocious auras were dimly visible.
The Southern Frontier is different from the East Sea or Northern Plains. Tianjizi explained in detail. There, sect empires are numerous, tribal conflicts are frequent, the environment is harsh, and poisonous miasmas, gu sorcery, and fierce beasts are endless. Many places still preserve ancient customs and are extremely hostile to outsiders. The Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal belongs to supreme yang and fierce attributes. Its guardian trial will probably relate to heart fire and will. It cannot be overcome by brute force.
He paused and looked at Xiao Qi. You bear the Purifying Source. The Azure Dragon Soul Crystal grants you water-control ability. Water and fire assist each other, which is inherently advantageous. But remember, in the Southern Frontier, what is most dangerous is often not natural disaster but human hearts. Some tribes might even have countless connections with Shadow Serpent Pavilion.
Xiao Qi recorded every word Tianjizi said. Simultaneously, he thought rapidly. Southern Frontier, volcanoes, molten rock, supreme yang and fierce. This indeed matched the legend of the Vermillion Bird. The Azure Dragon Soul Crystal in his body transmitted a faint fluctuation, seeming to sense that opposite-attributed existence that also belonged to the Four Symbols.
Senior, do you know the specific location? Or is there any credential that could let the Southern Frontier people accept us. Xiao Qi asked.
Tianjizi shook his head. Heavenly secrets are chaotic. The specific location must be explored by yourself. As for credentials. He meditated for a moment and took out a seemingly ordinary crimson feather. The feather's edges shimmered with faint golden light and felt warm to the touch. This is Flame Sparrow Feather. It was a gift from an old friend when this old man traveled the Southern Frontier in earlier years. Take this item to Fire Crow Stockade. Seek an elder named Wumeng. He might provide you some help, but he is not entirely trustworthy either. You must judge for yourself.
Xiao Qi solemnly received the feather, feeling the thread of pure fire spiritual energy contained within. Many thanks, Senior.
Remember. Tianjizi's form began to blur, his voice also seeming to come from a distant place. The day the Four Symbols gather is when truth is revealed, and also the moment the final storm begins. The demonic entity will not sit idle watching you succeed. Shadow Serpent Pavilion's pursuit will only grow more frantic. Protect yourself well, and protect the companions beside you.
When his words fell, Tianjizi's form had already dissolved like blue smoke into the air, leaving only that cup of tea still retaining warmth, proving he had been there.
Third Senior Sister walked to the window. Looking at the bustling streets outside, she sighed. This really kicked the hornet's nest. Shadow Serpent Pavilion, Southern Frontier. Sounds like there is not a single place that will be smooth sailing.
Xiao Qi rubbed the Flame Sparrow Feather in his hand. His gaze turned toward the southern horizon, as if he had already seen the stretching volcanoes and the scorching hot air rising from them. If the enemy comes, we send generals. If water flows, we dam it with earth. Senior Sister, since we have come this far, there is no turning back. If Shadow Serpent Pavilion wants war, then let them fight. However dangerous the Southern Frontier is, we must charge through.
He turned around and began inventorying the pills, talismans, and especially anti-toxin, fireproof, and calming items in his storage artifacts. We need to prepare quickly. Purchase enough supplies. The Southern Frontier has many poisonous miasmas and insect plagues. We need many detox pills and insect-repelling medicines. Volcanic zones have high temperatures. Cold-ice talismans and calming heart pills are also essential.
Third Senior Sister watched Xiao Qi methodically arranging everything. A trace of gratification flickered in her eyes. That little junior brother who had once needed her protection had truly grown up. He could stand alone and even bear the heavy responsibility of saving all living things. She patted the long sword at her waist. Her heroic brows lifted. Rest assured. This sword of your Senior Sister's has not been very active lately. Whether Shadow Serpent Pavilion or Southern Frontier savages, whoever dares cause trouble had better ask my sword first.
The following days, Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister swept through almost all major pharmacies and talisman shops in Wanghai City, purchasing related supplies. This drew much attention from passing cultivators. Simultaneously, Xiao Qi gathered intelligence about the Southern Frontier's geography, customs, and power distribution through various channels.
The information was complex and mixed, piecing together a chaotic, dangerous yet opportunity-filled Southern Frontier. There were tribes worshipping fire. There were evil cultivators commanding poisonous insects and gu creatures. There were ancient ruins hidden in dense forests. And there were countless ongoing conflicts over resources and beliefs.
On the night before leaving Wanghai City, Xiao Qi alone in his room once again took out that Flame Sparrow Feather and the simple map Tianjizi had left, carefully studying them. Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal, Southern Frontier volcanoes, Molten Fire Heart, and that Fire Crow Stockade elder Wumeng, friend or foe unknown.
He could feel the three soul crystals in his body faintly trembling, creating a subtle connection with that scorching aura far to the south. This was both a summons and a trial.
Putting things away, Xiao Qi pushed open the window and looked at the bright starry river in the night sky, deeply inhaling the salty sea breeze. The storms of the East Sea had temporarily subsided, but a larger storm was brewing among the mountains and molten rock of the Southern Frontier. The shadow of Shadow Serpent Pavilion was like a bone-deep ulcer, and Tianjizi, seemingly guiding, also had many mysteries surrounding him.
The path ahead was unknown, dangers lurked everywhere.
But his eyes were clear, his Dao heart was firm. No matter what hardships lay ahead, for the sake of gathering the soul crystals, for sealing the demonic entity, for finding his father, for all the people and things he wished to protect, he must continue walking.
The next morning, as the rising sun painted the sea golden, Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, accompanied by the rabbit spirit that had become even more intelligent and could even briefly communicate through divine sense, quietly left Wanghai City. Riding their flying artifacts, they transformed into two streams of light, heading southwest toward that legendary, scorching yet dangerous land, the Southern Frontier.
A new journey had already begun. And Tianjizi's warning, like a warning bell, constantly echoed in Xiao Qi's heart. He knew that from this moment, every step must be taken with caution, every decision could relate to life and death.