Chapter 138: Finding a Way Out of a Desperate Situation

Ye Jiuyao’s expression shifted violently as he looked at the Heavenly Demon Fire before him. He shifted his stance, his body erupting into motion as he fled in an instant.

"I... you cheated!"

Ye Jiuyao watched in shock as the flames veered, splitting into two forces: one lunging toward him, the other resisting the Demon-Sealing Edict.

"The Demon-Sealing Edict requires immense power; it cannot be wielded without it. Sun Qigang sacrificed himself, forcing out every ounce of his essence to command the Edict."

"My essence is nowhere near as profound as Sun Qigang's. What am I to do now?"

Questions raced through Ye Jiuyao’s mind. His immediate priority was to obtain sufficient essence, but his cultivation base was far too low.

"No, I must seal it and make it mine!"

Ye Jiuyao’s resolve remained unshakable. The essence within his body was consumed continuously, desperately holding back the onslaught of the Heavenly Demon Fire.

Yet, it was too weak.

This Heavenly Demon Fire had existed for who knows how long, and its power was terrifying. The sensations of freezing cold and searing heat grew increasingly intense; it would likely kill him before long.

"No, stay calm. I must stay calm and find a way, find a way..."

Ye Jiuyao felt a flicker of panic, but he forced himself to search for a solution.

"Heavenly Demon Fire."
"Sun Qigang."
"Great Demon..."
"..."
"The Canglang Scroll!!!"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck.

An image of a scroll, vivid and lifelike, appeared suspended in his mind. His eyes burned with intense focus.

"I'll risk it all!"

Ye Jiuyao let out a fierce roar. He once again drew upon his inner essence, attempting to trigger the Canglang Scroll. To his surprise, the attempt succeeded instantly.

"Hahaha... it really works!"

Ye Jiuyao laughed aloud, but the outburst caused the Heavenly Demon Fire to erupt with even more violent energy. The sound of sizzling flames filled the cavern.

He felt as though he were trapped within a crucible, the erratic shifts between freezing cold and scorching heat causing him immense agony.

"Demon-Sealing Edict!"

Ye Jiuyao cast another incantation. The Edict was no longer a small token; it transformed into a giant hand, instantly swooping down to seize the fire!

"I won't let you run wild!"

Ye Jiuyao roared, bringing the hand down to suppress it.

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

The sound of the flames being torn apart grew more terrifying with every passing second, until it suddenly became the absolute master of the space.

"I will not be denied!"

The giant hand contracted sharply, forming a sealed sphere. In an instant, the terrifying momentum of the Heavenly Demon Fire dissipated.

"Phew... that was close."

Watching the Heavenly Demon Fire vanish under the power of the Demon-Sealing Edict, Ye Jiuyao smiled in satisfaction.

"As I thought, the mist-like essence within the Canglang Scroll can be commanded by me, but it acts like an emergency measure. Unless I am in a life-or-death situation, this thing will never come to my rescue."

Ye Jiuyao sighed, his face showing the joy of one who had narrowly escaped catastrophe.

"Enter!"

He traced a seal with his hands, and the sphere was pulled into his body. The first Heavenly Demon Fire, residing in his dantian, sensed its companion like a child meeting a playmate. It lunged out and enveloped the sphere.

Ye Jiuyao dared not grow complacent. He cast the sphere into the Canglang Scroll, where it was quickly digested.

Once it had entered the scroll, Ye Jiuyao focused his mind and followed it inside, finding the Heavenly Demon Fire trembling in fear.

"Oh ho? So you do know how to be afraid?"

"Hiss... you... you are not a good person."

"You have attained true sentience? That is good; it saves me quite a bit of refining time..." Ye Jiuyao muttered to himself.

"Let me out, or I will burn you to death!" the Heavenly Demon Fire threatened, feigning ferocity. Ye Jiuyao merely laughed and stepped toward it.

"Come then, burn me and let me see!" he mocked.

"Hiss!"

As soon as he spoke, the fire lunged to unleash its flames, only to discover its power had been completely locked down.

"Hm, how cute. Again?" Ye Jiuyao looked at the fire, which now resembled a bristling Pomeranian, and smiled.

"Come, little guy, meet your new partner."

Ye Jiuyao flicked his finger, and the previous Heavenly Demon Fire appeared. The moment the two flames met, the fire element in the air surged several times over.

"You! You actually erased its sentience!!"

"Heh, if you don't submit obediently, I'll do the same to you. Do you believe me?!"

Ye Jiuyao looked like a demon from hell, his tone filled with playful malice.

"I will never submit, even in death!"

"Then... come inside my body and play!"

With a thought, both flames entered his body, and his "Eating and Sleeping Technique" activated instantly.

"Ah... what... what is this?!"

Ye Jiuyao did not answer; he accelerated the circulation of his technique. The second level of his "Eating and Sleeping Technique" was far beyond what it once was. In no time at all, the Heavenly Demon Fire was completely eradicated, as if it had never existed within him at all.

However, it was not over yet.

"Fire, come!"

Ye Jiuyao’s voice was deep and resonant. With a sudden boom in his palm, an even more terrifying flame surged forth. He absorbed every ounce of power hidden within the fire, and under the influence of the "Eating and Sleeping Technique," the surging essence mixed with the scorching heat of the flames flooded his entire body.

"Sage Realm, break!"

His internal essence churned like boiling water, rushing through his meridians until it reached a barrier. The essence struck like a battering ram, shattering the gate in an instant. With the momentum of a falling mountain, Ye Jiuyao naturally broke through into the Sage Realm.

It was a smooth, effortless transition.

"As expected, devouring the Heavenly Demon Fire allows for faster breakthroughs. But I don't know when the next one will appear. I must return quickly, lest that giant fool destroys the Thousand Leaf Sect!"

"It seems I must be careful next time. A Great Demon and a Heavenly Demon Fire usually appear in tandem. If one emerges, the other is likely nearby—or perhaps not!"

"Next time, I must find the Heavenly Demon Fire first; otherwise, the power of a Great Demon is not something an ordinary person can resist!"

This incident served as a wake-up call for Ye Jiuyao. After all, he could not rely on such luck every time; this victory had been a gamble.

But what about the next time? Or the time after that?

The emergence of a Great Demon was always unexpected and impossible to guard against, just like the incident with the giant fool. Who would have thought that the "giant fool" was actually a Golden-Winged Great Peng, and that it had been hiding so deeply?

Ye Jiuyao hurriedly withdrew from the Canglang Scroll, rushed to the cave entrance, and effortlessly shattered the boulder blocking the way. He took off, sprinting into the distance without looking back.