C71 Fire God Appeared

Spectral attacking methods materialized in the air, slowly coalescing into a complex pact.

The stick nonchalantly licked its ice cream and sipped on yogurt as it leaped into the fray without a second thought.

Sssst!

The pact constricted, ensnaring the stick within its grasp.

In an instant, the attacking method morphed into an intricate sigil, branding itself onto the stick's forehead.

This was Wang Yan's soul imprint, signifying the mark of his ownership.

From that moment forward, everything about the stick, including its very life, was under Wang Yan's dominion.

The Mystic Ice Realm's political landscape was straightforward: three churches locked in a tepid struggle.

Perhaps due to their common roots, their conflicts were subdued, reminiscent of the chivalrous warfare of the Spring and Autumn period.

Having achieved his objective, Wang Yan wandered around with a handful of companions.

Gold and the stick perched on his shoulders, Green nestled in his embrace, Rice Bucket trailed behind, and Moon clutched his hand.

Together, they resembled a family out for a spring outing.

The Mystic Ice Realm was rife with chilling toxins, save for within the sanctuary of its three cities.

While the locals had adapted to this harsh climate, outsiders like Wang Yan had not.

Thus, the city's hot springs were an essential retreat.

Submerging in the soothing waters, he bathed away the internal chill, basking in contentment.

And the cost was a bargain: a mere ice coin for a half-hour soak.

Ice coins could be exchanged one-for-one with Soul Copper Coins at the realm's entrance, or traded for Crystal Formation Water within the city, with rates ranging from one to ten thousand, depending on the water's purity.

Upon reaching the changing room, Wang Yan found it bustling with people.

Most were foreigners like himself, with only a few natives among them.

"Hey, aren't you Wang Yan?"

A strapping man approached, his face lighting up with recognition.

"Do you know me?"

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow at the man's easygoing demeanor.

"Single-handedly battling ten thousand, sending them into a headlong retreat, you've become a legend across the Flame Empire."

The muscular man slapped Wang Yan's shoulder familiarly, beaming with pride. "I'm an alumnus of M Province University too, so I guess that makes me your senior!"

"Oh, hey there, senior brother!"

Wang Yan gave a nod of acknowledgment. It made sense now; the guy was an alumnus, which explained his demeanor.

"Come on, I know this place like the back of my hand. Let me treat you to the full-service experience."

The brawny man chatted as they walked, with Wang Yan stripping off his clothes along the way.

"You know, there's a rumor that the warmth of these three cities comes from the Fire God. The Water God, Ice God, and Snow God worked together to subdue him but couldn't quite finish the job. So they devised a plan: siphon his divine power to construct the cities. As long as the cities stand, the Fire God's power will be steadily drained."

Mid-speech, the brawny man shifted gears. "All this is way over our heads, though. Even a century of effort wouldn't get us there. So we might as well live for the moment and take life as it comes."

"The hot springs are infused with the Fire God's power, which is great for kidney health and boosting vitality. It makes you bigger, stronger. Soak often and long enough, and you can bulk up like me."

He boasted, puffing out his chest with pride.

But then, catching a glimpse of Wang Yan, now disrobed and ready to enter the water, he blurted out a curse.

"Holy crap! How are you so huge?"

Wang Yan: "..."

The brawny man made a hasty excuse and scurried off, unstoppable despite Wang Yan's attempts.

Left with no choice and to spare others a hit to their self-esteem, Wang Yan reluctantly paid extra for a private room.

"Life, huh? It's just so dull..."

Gold and Rod, towels draped over their heads, sipped their drinks in bliss. Green swam about, while the glutton blew bubbles.

Wang Yan reclined at ease against the pool's edge, while Moon scrubbed away diligently.

"By the way, aren't you an Ice Fairy? Why the love for hot springs?" Goldie asked, eyeing Rod curiously.

"I'm not sure myself; it just feels really good," Rod replied, taking a swig of his chilled soda, the picture of contentment.

Compared to the days of hunger and exclusion, his current life was nothing short of divine.

"Ice Elves enjoying hot springs and sparking flames? Fascinating," Goldie mumbled. Unable to make sense of it, it simply stopped trying.

"Green needs the Coiling Dragon Bloodline to ascend to king status. Goldie has more to collect: Phoenix Bird, Jade Song, Blue Luan, Swan... It'll take a while to gather them all. Moon requires moonlight, and we've run out of Star River Sand, so we'll have to accumulate it slowly. Rice Bucket needs the bloodline of any canine lord, which should be straightforward. And the staff requires a substantial amount of pure ice elements, but that's not too challenging."

Wang Yan sighed. Goldie was facing quite the predicament. Green had already consumed five dragon species, while it had only one. If that were the only issue, it wouldn't be so bad, but the rate at which it absorbed bloodlines was painfully slow. Green could process them in just a few days, but it would take at least a month for Goldie.

"We'll find it in time. If impatience helped, I'd be a god by now," Goldie quipped, taking a leisurely sip of its drink, a look of contentment on its face.

"True enough," Wang Yan agreed, nodding. He planned to stay a few more days before seeking out a phoenix species ferocious beast. The Coiling Dragon was a matter of chance, and finding one would be a stroke of luck. Goldie's missing four, however, should be easier to locate.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

The sound of bubbling echoed around him. Wang Yan's eyes snapped open to see bubbles rising from the depths of the water.

"Why are there bubbles in the hot spring? Could this be volcanic activity?"

With no time to ponder, Wang Yan whisked Moon into the contract space, leapt from the pool, and hurriedly dressed. The bubbling intensified, and the water churned as if it were boiling over.

"Master, the temperature is rising."

The rod's expression was grave, and the elf's acute senses warned of an impending danger.

"I'm well aware the temperature's on the rise—the water's practically spitting fire."

Wang Yan's brow was deeply furrowed, sensing that something was amiss.

In under five seconds, the hot spring's bubbles transformed into flames.

The flames shifted hues, from red to orange, then to yellow, until they blazed a searing white.

The temperature had soared to a horrifying degree. Even with Wang Yan's constitution at 142 points, direct contact would mean instant vaporization.

"Let's move!"

He didn't understand the cause, but it was clear they couldn't linger.

Wang Yan skirted the flames, intent on making a swift exit.

Just then, a streak of blue shot from the inferno, piercing the rod with an unfathomable speed.

"This is bad!"

Wang Yan's eyes widened in horror. The elf's delicate form couldn't possibly endure such extreme heat.

The rod had been his for less than two hours, and he had promised it a full belly daily—a promise he wasn't about to break lightly.

But the current predicament spelled doom for the rod.

"Damn it, once I level up to 10, I swear I'll return and obliterate this damned Mystic Ice Realm!"

Wang Yan seethed internally, yet his body instinctively fled.

Whatever that blue specter was, it was beyond his current capacity to confront.

In the face of overwhelming power, preserving his life was paramount.

Wang Yan's reasoning was sound, yet just then, an enraged roar erupted behind him, followed by a shockwave of unspeakable force.

The heavens thundered, the earth quaked.

White and blue clashed, a maelstrom of ice and fire.

"Ice God, where do you think you're going? Victory is undecided; let us battle for another 800 rounds!"

The voice was deep and gruff, resonating with a volatile fury.

"Fire God, I have no desire to prolong this fruitless battle. I concede. The world is yours now."

A soft but distinctly irritated female voice resonated above the three cities, instilling fear in the hearts of the faithful from all three sects. Their deity was poised to forsake them, ceding the world to the Fire God.

"Wow, just wow!" Wang Yan groaned inwardly. The existence of actual gods was something he hadn't anticipated, let alone that a simple dip in a hot spring could spark an epic clash between the gods of ice and fire. What had he done to deserve this? It seemed every time he was involved, chaos ensued, making him feel like a harbinger of disaster.

"Boss, did that moron bite the dust?" Goldie extricated itself from the pit, too preoccupied with the fierce red and blue hues battling in the sky to bother cleaning the dirt from its face.

"He's not cold; he's overdone!" Wang Yan grumbled under his breath. These days were just too damn exasperating.

He resolved that once the Northern Warzone Challenge was over, he'd stay put at home, venturing nowhere. He'd prefer confinement or even having a second child with Ruan Mei to this constant turmoil.

Dealing with various ferocious beasts was one thing, and he could even tolerate the Revolution Fraternity stirring up trouble, but now with gods entering the fray, to whom could he possibly turn?

"Concede? Do you think so little of me?" The Fire God's voice boomed again, seething with rage. True to his fiery nature, the Fire God's temper flared as he relentlessly berated the Ice God.

The Ice God, no less formidable, driven by fury, cast aside all restraint and engaged in a ferocious battle with the Fire God.