Chapter Eighty-Five: The Dragon Blood Pool

Ning Baixia soothed him, saying, "She'll be waiting for you on the other side of the Flowing Fire Void Realm."
Ning Mofei immediately frowned and complained, "That place isn't fun."
"Where would you like to go, then?"
"Where there are lots of birds."
"We'll also go to the Yaoguang Void Realm. We still need to find a high-level monster egg to compensate Junior Sister Bai."
"Will Third Brother look with us?"
"Yes." Ning Baixia forced a smile. He still couldn't bring himself to sever his feelings for Yu Youwei; he was no longer the most cherished and attentive brother. The Severing Sentiment Sword Technique must be cultivated as soon as possible!
"Third Brother, you're acting strange today," Ning Mofei also sensed something was off.
His heart skipped a beat, and Ning Baixia firmly denied it: "How am I strange?"
The remnant soul of Ye Jiuyou laughed uproariously in Ning Mofei's spiritual sea: "You fool, your closest Third Brother is in love with your wife."
"I don't understand," Ning Mofei blurted out. Glancing around to make sure no one was near, he snuggled up to Third Brother and whispered, "Third Brother, there's a ghost!"
"What ghost? Don't talk nonsense."
"Really, I heard a terrifying voice just now."
"What did it say?"
"It called me a fool and said Third Brother is in love with my wife," Ning Mofei said without a hint of suspicion.
"Uh?" Ning Baixia's expression changed drastically, his gaze flickered with complexity, and his tone turned harsh: "Who taught you to slander Third Brother like that?"
"It really is..."
"Still trying to argue! Tell me, was it that wretched Lin Xinyue gossiping yesterday?" Ning Baixia barked fiercely.
"Senior Sister Lin said a lot, but..."

"Hmph, I knew it was that two-faced wretch. I'll deal with her later."
"Don't be angry, Third Brother, I'm scared."
"If you're scared, don't talk nonsense. Your wife is over there, go find her yourself."
By now, they had reached the entrance of the Flowing Fire Void Realm at the foot of Flowing Skyfire Peak. Many disciples, holding their tokens, were lined up outside, waiting to enter. Aside from the four elders and Yu Youwei who had arrived earlier, the Ning brothers' conversation was overheard by everyone present. Ning Baixia shoved his younger brother toward Yu Youwei and stormed off in anger.
An uproar ensued at Flowing Fire Peak, but no one noticed the four elders exchanging glances. Then, Elder Shui dragged Yu Youwei into the hall, and the bewildered Ning Mofei was pulled in as well, cutting in line to enter the Flowing Fire Void Realm. Elders Hong and Ma followed, while Elder Ye slipped away to chase after Ning Baixia.
Ning Baixia didn't go far before stopping. As Elder Ye approached, he immediately said, "Ye Jiuyou's remnant soul might be growing stronger. Before, he had to control Mofei's body to speak, and once Mofei regained consciousness, the remnant soul had to retreat into the Soul Devouring Sword. But now, he can appear while Mofei is fully awake."
"You little rascal, you've dumped so much dirt on Lin—you'll have her crying her heart out!"
"I'm ready to cultivate the Severing Sentiment Technique; better she cry sooner than later," Ning Baixia replied coolly.
"You brat! Ah, whatever, do as you will." Elder Ye shook his head and left.
The Flowing Fire Void Realm was a landscape of undulating volcanoes, eruptions rising and falling, fiery clouds churning overhead, the spectacle awe-inspiring. The Dragon Blood Pool, which opened once every ten years, was guarded by four volcanoes. Though called a pool, it was in fact a lake filled with thick, viscous blood. Elder Ma, in his usual monotone, said, "Girl, you saved my direct great-grandson in the Dark Emperor's Castle. So, though the sect leader's reward was entry into the Flowing Cloud Void Realm, I've changed it to the Dragon Blood Pool. Not only will it cleanse your muscles and bones, it'll also temper your soul. Of course, if you're willing to become my disciple, I'll teach you all my pill-crafting techniques."
"Hey, Old Ma, that's not fair. We agreed she'd explore and choose for herself," Elder Hong squawked.
"Hmm, though Old Crab usually talks nonsense, he's right this time," Elder Shui said, giving Yu Youwei a gentle slap. "What are you waiting for? Hurry down. Old Ma may be unscrupulous, but he's not exaggerating."
With that light tap from Elder Shui, Yu Youwei involuntarily soared and plunged into the Dragon Blood Pool. Her entry into the blood brought no splash, only a wave of excruciating pain, causing her to cry out instinctively.
"Youwei!" Ning Mofei panicked, wanting to pull her out, but Elder Shui held him back.
"Boy, don't shout, or you'll distract your wife."
"I want to go down and be with her," Ning Mofei sobbed.
"You silly boy, you're terrified of pain; best not go down," Elder Shui feigned advice.
Ye Qingyun reached the pool's edge as well, but did not relay Ning Baixia's suspicions to the other elders. He only said to Yu Youwei, who was struggling not to cry, "Girl, if it hurts, cry out—there's no shame."
"I'm fine. Mofei, give me your Soul Devouring Sword. I'll go to the bottom; you stay at the edge and adapt slowly. It's painful, but endure it and it'll pass." Speech slurred from agony, Yu Youwei, with only her head above the blood, still managed to say all this.

"What sword?" Ning Mofei asked blankly, his face streaked with tears.
"Don't push yourself, girl—neck-deep is your limit. Any deeper and you won't endure," Elder Ma urged.
"The soul-tempering effects must be stronger at the bottom. I can endure," Yu Youwei insisted, then added, "Mofei, summon the Soul Devouring Sword and send it to me."
Though puzzled, Ning Mofei obeyed. The sword, bound to him, responded to his intent, emerging from his body as a streak of black light that flew to Yu Youwei.
She grabbed the Soul Devouring Sword and dove deeper. The spirit within her Scarlet Flame Sword hummed excitedly: "Go deeper, you're not at your limit yet, hurry!"
"Has Ye Jiuyou's remnant soul followed?"
"That cunning creature saw through your trap; he won't come so quickly. Don't worry, he'll come. He can't resist the soul-tempering effects of the Dragon Blood Pool."
"He's really not in the Soul Devouring Sword?"
"Absolutely not."
"Why is it that when the Soul Devouring Sword leaves his body, Ye Jiuyou's remnant soul stays in Mofei, and the elders don't notice?"
"They're too weak! At Ye Jiuyou's peak, he could take on ten at once."
"And you haven't been found?"
"Impossible—they haven't even detected that wisp of remnant soul."
This was a conversation in thought, so swift that countless ideas passed in an instant, while Yu Youwei's body endured pain more unbearable than a thousand cuts. The deeper she dove, the fiercer the pain, but instinctively she clung to the Soul Devouring Sword.
"Have the courage to break through your limits. Go deeper, and you'll find a transformation awaits you," the Scarlet Flame Sword spirit tempted.
The little white bear, tucked away in the beast token and snoring, suddenly cried out in alarm, "You've reached your limit—your body is about to burst!"
"Should I break through the limit?" Yu Youwei hesitated. Just then, the Soul Devouring Sword in her hand trembled gently. Before the Scarlet Flame Sword spirit could prompt her, she cried out, "Seal!"