53: Chapter 53 Holding My Waist

As soon as these words were spoken,

Sure enough, the two female gatekeeper Disciples behind them began to whisper among themselves.

A look of regret appeared on Liu Qingyan's face at just the right moment as she gently shook her head:

"Alas, in the end, I still couldn't cure Senior Sister. It seems there really is no way."

She sighed as she spoke.

After a short while, Liu Qingyan looked back at Mo Zixing, her tone becoming brighter:

"Let's not talk about that anymore."

"I've already reported our departure to the Grand Elder, and all the necessary supplies are ready. It's time to set off for the Domain of Blazing Flame."

Before her voice had even faded, Liu Qingyan's fingertips moved slightly.

A long sword glowing with a faint green light flew out from nowhere and hovered before the two of them.

Mo Zixing was a bit surprised.

He knew Liu Qingyan was an Alchemy Cultivator, but he hadn't expected her to use a Flying Sword.

Seeing the surprise in his eyes, Liu Qingyan couldn't help but smile:

"Are you surprised?"

"I'm not a Sword Cultivator, and I don't know any sword techniques."

"This Flying Sword is just a Magical Artifact used for travel."

She paused, then promised:

"If you like it, once you Cultivate diligently and reach a Breakthrough to the Crystallization Realm in the future, I'll give you an even better one."

Give him one?

Mo Zixing was stunned.

Something like a Flying Sword, she just offers to give it away!

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder."

"You don't need to be so formal with me. Come on up."

"Flying on a sword is much faster. If we hurry, we can reach the outskirts of the Domain of Blazing Flame by tomorrow."

Liu Qingyan stepped forward first, standing on the front half of the Flying Sword, and beckoned to Mo Zixing.

"Yes."

Mo Zixing replied, leaped up, and landed behind Liu Qingyan.

The Flying Sword wobbled slightly before rising steadily into the air.

The two of them turned into a streak of green light.

They sped away in the direction leading out of the Sect.

The mountain wind blew against them.

It carried the medicinal fragrance from Liu Qingyan's body.

Standing on the Flying Sword, Mo Zixing watched the mountains and rivers flash by below, but his mind was on other things.

He remembered Liu Qingyan saying that a round trip to the Domain of Blazing Flame would take three to five days if they were fast.

Since he had a seven-day agreement with Su Li, he still had a day or two of leeway.

"Be careful, stand firm and don't fall off."

Liu Qingyan's voice drifted back from the front.

It was fine until she said it, but now Mo Zixing couldn't help but glance down.

The Flying Sword was quite far from the ground.

The trees beneath them had shrunk into blurry shadows.

If they really crashed,

He would definitely be in for it.

Just as he thought this, the Flying Sword suddenly passed through a pocket of high-altitude turbulence and jolted violently.

Liu Qingyan turned her head slightly, unable to suppress a slight curl of her lips:

"Hold my waist, and don't move around."

At those words, Mo Zixing immediately took half a step forward and placed his hands on Liu Qingyan's waist.

Even through her outer robe, he could clearly feel the curve of her waist and her body heat.

Mo Zixing faintly felt the body beneath his palms stiffen for a tiny fraction of a second.

The Flying Sword also wobbled slightly, so fast it felt like they had just passed through a breeze.

A second later, it became perfectly steady again.

His hands instinctively tightened their grip a bit.

Neither of them spoke again for the rest of the journey.

Only the whistling mountain wind passed between them.

Mo Zixing was the first to break the silence, unable to hold back any longer:

"Is the Innate Thunder Fire very rare?"

Liu Qingyan's voice drifted back with the wind, remaining steady and gentle:

"Rare."

"In the entire Yongning Province, it's not even guaranteed that one fully formed Innate Thunder Fire will be birthed every three years."

"Ordinary Alchemy Fire has too many Impurities; it's not worthy of your talent."

"If we're looking for one, we'll find the best."

They flew for nearly another two hours.

Mo Zixing gradually felt the environment around them changing.

At first, the wind brushing against his face was cool.

But the further they flew, the hotter the wind became.

Eventually, they were met with nothing but scorching heat waves that stung slightly as they scraped against his face.

The scenery below also changed.

The lush green mountains and waters gradually vanished, replaced by crimson-red rocky soil.

In the distance, a volcano could be faintly seen, with faint white smoke rising from its crater.

"We're here."

Liu Qingyan's voice rang out again, interrupting Mo Zixing's thoughts.

She maneuvered the Flying Sword to descend slowly, landing gently at the foot of the mountain.

Mo Zixing wiped the sweat from his forehead, took half a step back, and stood on the ground once more.

This place was way too hot.

Even with his Foundation Establishment Third Level spiritual power, it was difficult to withstand the high temperature here.

If a Disciple in the Qi Refinement Stage came here, they would probably turn into a piece of dried Cultivator jerky in no time.

With a casual wave of her hand, Liu Qingyan put away the Flying Sword.

She turned around and pointed to the continuous crimson mountain range before them, introducing it to Mo Zixing:

"This is the only active volcanic group in Yongning Province, the Domain of Blazing Flame."

"It doesn't just look dangerous; in reality, it's not safe at all."

She paused and added in a serious tone:

"Not only are there many fire-attribute Yao Beasts with significant cultivation, but there are also many Alchemy Cultivators from other Sects here looking for fire."

"There have even been instances of Loose Cultivators lying in wait here specifically to kill and rob others of their treasures."

"Stay close to me after we enter and don't wander off. Otherwise, if something really happens, even I might not be able to save you in time."

Mo Zixing complied:

"Understood."

Liu Qingyan nodded and took out two jade talismans, handing one to Mo Zixing:

"This is a Fire-Avoidance Talisman. Carrying it will block most of the heat from the earth fire, preventing the fire energy here from damaging your Meridians before you even find the Thunder Fire."

"Keep it safe, don't lose it."

Mo Zixing reached out to take it and carefully attached it:

"Thank you, Elder."

As soon as the Fire-Avoidance Talisman was attached, the scorching heat wave immediately dissipated by more than half, and even the fire-attribute spiritual energy in the air became much milder.

Liu Qingyan straightened her hem and took the lead, walking toward the mountain range:

"Let's go. We'll head to the Earth Fire Cave on the outskirts first."

"I'll let you adapt to the aura of the earth fire and test your control over it before we head deeper to find the Innate Thunder Fire."

Mo Zixing responded and quickly followed her.

He also felt a faint sense of anticipation.

He didn't have any fire-attribute Spiritual Root traits yet, but his [Medicine Spirit Body] did have Alchemy Aptitude.

He wondered if he would have a different kind of compatibility with the earth fire and Thunder Fire used for Alchemy Fire.

The red soil beneath his feet was baked hard and cracked; with every step, he could feel the warmth coming from below.

In the crevices of the rocks along the road, he occasionally saw partial skeletons that had been gnawed on.

Mo Zixing followed behind Liu Qingyan. The closer they got to the central volcano, the clearer the sound of the surging earth fire became.

Turning a bend in the mountain, a huge, pitch-black cave suddenly appeared ahead.

Heat waves surged from the cave entrance; this must be the Earth Fire Cave Liu Qingyan mentioned.

But just then...

Mo Zixing suddenly heard a young girl's angry shout coming from inside the cave.