Chapter 10: The Ancient Flame Sparrow (Part 2)

When Eagle Demon saw Guo Shieru flying over, he waved to signal him to land.
Guo Shieru landed beside Eagle Demon, waved his hand to let the Flame Sparrow move freely, and asked, “Uncle Eagle Demon, how much did we dig today?”
Eagle Demon tossed a pouch of talismans to Guo Shieru and said, “This is what we dug in these ten days… There aren’t many purple or black talisman jades—about thirty or so, of varying sizes. There are already few talisman jades on the surface. If we want to keep digging, we’ll have to dig underground…”
Guo Shieru shook his head and said, “Don’t dig for talisman jades underground—it’s too dangerous.” He knew well that if a flame emerged, those digging would be in grave danger. Even a high-level talisman martial artist would be in trouble if touched by the flame, let alone if it were a high-quality flame.
Eagle Demon also didn’t want to take risks. Dying from a talisman flame because of digging for talisman jades would be utterly worthless. He would rather die in battle than under a talisman flame.
“Enough…”
Guo Shieru knew Eagle Demon was getting impatient too. In fact, he felt the same way. Nodding, he said, “Yeah, enough. I feel like vomiting just by seeing flames now.”
Eagle Demon laughed and said, “Hehe, being roasted in a fire every day for over half a year is indeed unbearable… You’re not bad. Using these flames to cultivate an excellent Flame Sparrow is worth it. This Flame Sparrow should allow you to challenge experts beyond your rank.”
Guo Shieru humbly said, “Without actual combat, I can’t be sure of the Flame Sparrow’s strength.”
Eagle Demon said, “I can sense the threat posed by the Flame Sparrow.”
Guo Shieru replied, “My master’s wife said the same, but I don’t think the Flame Sparrow can surpass her.”
Eagle Demon laughed and said, “Of course not. She’s a Holy Master.” A Holy Master is a powerful being who can directly resist level-seven mutated talisman beasts. Even in the Higher Talisman Continent, they are elite professionals whom no one should underestimate. Reaching the level of Holy Master means reaching the top of the professional pyramid. Though not quite at the very peak, they can already suppress the vast majority of professionals.
Boom! Boom!
Eagle Demon exclaimed in shock, “What?”
Guo Shieru quickly soared into the air and saw thick plumes of smoke rising in the distance. He shouted, “Uncle Eagle Demon, let’s go over there!” With a whistle, the Flame Sparrow immediately flew over excitedly. Eagle Demon also flew into the air and followed Guo Shieru at high speed.
By the time Guo Shieru and Eagle Demon arrived, the battle was over. Six corpses lay on the ground.Dead wood stared coldly into the distance.
Guo Shieru asked, “Master, who are they?”

Before Ku Mu could speak, Zhu Juan returned, filled with anger. He said, “He ran fast… he got away!”
Monier also arrived, having been further away and thus the last to reach. She asked, “Mu Tu, Fatty, what happened?”
Zhu Juan grumbled, “A group of them attacked me suddenly… If it weren’t for Mu Tu stepping in, I would’ve been hurt!”
Ku Mu said, “They couldn’t hurt you. Those mad masters… they were seeking death themselves!”
Guo Shier took a quick look at the corpses and said, “They’re from the outer continents! Finally, someone has come in.” His heart turned cold. The long-term opening of the Yanhu Secret Realm meant there were also passages leading in from other continents. No wonder the master had ordered the Beifu Sect to guard the entrance. If disciples of the Beifu Sect were scattered throughout the secret realm, it would be easy for those from the outer continents to find the continent where the Beifu Sect was located. By then, the Beifu Sect would be in trouble.
Ku Mu said, “That’s not surprising. As long as they’re not from advanced continents, we don’t need to worry.”
Zhu Juan said, “We should still report to the sect. The guy who escaped seems to have the level of an advanced mad master. These people are quite strong.”
Ku Mu said, “We’ve searched this area of Fu Huo several times already. There probably isn’t much useful Fu Huo left. We can report to the sect… It will take at least a hundred years for the Fu Huo here to recover. Even so, this place is still a treasure trove, and we can also earn a lot of sect points.”
Zhu Juan said, “Yes, let’s report to the sect as soon as possible. I guess it won’t be long before… the guy who escaped returns with a large group. Any sect or family that discovers such a treasure will come to seize it… It depends on their strength. If they’re powerful, it’ll be a tough fight.”
Ku Mu said, “Fatty, go to the Altar Secret Realm to report the situation here and request support immediately. Bring disciples to protect this place.”
Zhu Juan nodded in agreement and said, “Mu Tu, be careful yourself. The place where those people are isn’t simple. There are four mad masters and three advanced great talisman masters in just one squad—definitely not easy to deal with… It’s a shame I didn’t catch that guy who escaped. He even had the rare Blood Escape Talisman. He ran too fast.”
Ku Mu said, “Once he uses the Blood Escape Talisman, his soul will be severely damaged, and his strength will drop by at least one level. Hmph, let’s see what kind of experts he brings next time…”

Monier stepped forward, took Guo Shier’s hand, and said, “A fight is about to start. Baby, go back to Beifu Gate first.” She knew Guo Shier had a Gate, so it would be convenient for him to return. But over the past half year, Guo Shier hadn’t thought about leaving on his own. Although this place was dull and uninteresting, it had also brought him many benefits. Plus, he needed to study quietly and absorb the teachings of the Void Confusion Path, which was why he hadn’t left.

Guo Shier shook his head. “I need real combat experience!”

A hint of appreciation appeared in Kumu’s eyes as he said, “Shier, you don’t need to go. With me here, there’s no danger.”

Monier glared at Kumu but didn’t object. For professionals, combat was a skill that must be mastered. A professional who couldn’t fight was a worthless one.

“Baby, if anyone comes, stay by your mentor’s side and don’t act rashly.”

Guo Shier nodded. If the opponent was a master at the Saint level, there was no chance he could intervene. He fully understood how powerful a Saint was—one could destroy a major sect on the lower continents with ease.

He asked, “Should we wait for them here?”

Monier smiled. “Let’s go back to the tent. Even if they come, it will take a few days. By then, the Chenxiao Sect should have sent someone over.”

Kumu nodded. “Let’s go back and wait. If they come early, it’s just bad luck for them.” His words carried a murderous tone.

Guo Shier didn’t take it seriously, knowing his master was ruthless in killing. He said, “I’m going to grill meat.” The four of them flew toward the tent.

Once inside the tent, Kumu tossed a life talisman book to Guo Shier and said, “It’s a pity the others were destroyed. Only this one is relatively intact. Check it to see if there are any talismans you need.”

It was usually very difficult to seize someone’s life talisman book, as when a person died, their soul disappeared, and so did the talisman book. Even with Kumu’s skills as a high-level Saint, he could only steal one person’s life talisman book. Guo Shier asked, “Is it the life talisman book of the Mad Master?”

Kumu replied, “It’s the life talisman book of a junior spellcasting Mad Master. There should be something useful in it. Take your time searching.”

Guo Shier casually stored it in the talisman storage of his life talisman sphere—such things were treasures. He estimated that it would be quite good if half of the talismans in the book could be preserved when the soul vanished.

A day later, Guo Shier took Yanque to the Flame Zone, not far from the tent, to let the bird fly around. Even without absorbing sigil fire, Yanque loved this environment very much; from time to time, it would absorb a flame to form sigil fire beads, which it then swallowed. It was storing up fire.

Suddenly, Kuumu’s voice was heard: “Shier, come back!”

Guo Shier flew back with Yanque. Since the distance was only a few hundred meters, he soon arrived at Kuumu’s tent and asked, “Master, is something wrong?”

Kuumu replied calmly, “Someone is coming!”

Guo Shier was shocked and asked, “How many? Are they the same people as last time?”

Kuumu said, “I don’t know. Let’s wait; they’ll be here soon.”

Monier and Eagle Demon also came out of their tents. Monier asked, “About how many?”

Kuumu replied, “Not many!”

Seven faint silver lights streaked across the sky and flew swiftly toward the Flame Zone. This time, even Guo Shier could see clearly. He said, “Seven people!”

Kuumu said, “It’s the same squad as last time. It seems they weren’t brought by the one who fled, but rather another squad that discovered the Flame Zone, just like them… Let’s go meet them!” He took off first.

Monier and the other two followed into the air to meet those people.

Soon, the two sides met above the Flame Zone. Guo Shier couldn’t tell their professional levels. He whispered, “Master, is there any Sage among them?” He was extremely wary of Sages; if there were any, he could only focus on defense and wouldn’t be able to engage in combat.

Monier shook her head and said, “There are no Sages. The highest-ranked one is a Sigil Mania Master, well, an advanced one—just one… This squad is quite strong. Even the weakest one is a beginner-level Sigil Martial Mania Master… You and Little Eagle need to be careful. Stay close to me; leave the rest to your master.”

Kuumu stared coldly at the seven people across from him. He said nothing, merely fixing his icy gaze on them like a viper ready to strike.

Guo Shier didn’t recall Yanque. Instead, he instructed it to fly around Monier, Eagle Demon, and himself, ready to protect the three at any time. No one knew Yanque’s true strength. Until the firebird attacked, Guo Shier wasn’t sure how far it had grown.

It was seven middle-aged men wearing sigil armor. It was obvious they weren’t there for training but as skilled explorers. Mania Master-level experts were no weaklings; they were the backbone of any sect. It was clear their sect placed great importance on this secret realm, as they had discovered two high-level squads in just two days.

Especially this team—all seven of them were Mad Masters, a challenge even ordinary junior Holy Masters would find troublesome. But here was a senior Holy Master, one skilled in killing, who didn’t care about these people at all.
Withered Wood turned and said, “Nier, protect Guo Shier.”
Monier replied, “Leave one alive to ask where they came from!”
The seven of them didn’t rush to act either; instead, they observed the four on the other side carefully. Clearly, the child floating in the air was a senior Grand Spellcaster, and the middle-aged strong man beside him was a senior Grand Spell Warrior. But they couldn’t figure out who the women beside them were, nor could they understand the person in purple at the front.
Neither side spoke; they simply faced each other, assessing each other’s strength in their minds.
All that could be heard was the roar of the flames, creating an extremely tense atmosphere.
Suddenly, the seven of them attacked. They scattered and quickly surrounded Withered Wood and the others, adopting an attacking stance without even asking questions. One of them shouted, “Hold them off!”
A fierce glint flashed in Withered Wood’s eyes. He said just one word: “Die!”
Guo Shier cried, “Finish this quickly! They have reinforcements!”
Book 10: Land of Blood