Chapter 4: Crimson Flame

  "Wow wow wow", every morning, the rooster in Wang's family would wake up Xiaoshi on time.

  The little stone stretched lazily. Today can't stay in bed, still have to go to the teacher's place to read books. Slept really well last night, slept till dawn. But always feel cold all over, slept for a whole night and even the quilt didn't get warm.

  Zhao Wu Jin's voice came again "How was it, did you sleep well?"

  Almost forgot there was another person, "Big brother, you're awake too!" he said apologetically.

  Heaven has eyes and sees the pitiful, Zhao Wuji can still sleep what kind of sleep. Last night, this kid slept like a pig, letting him busy for a whole night.

  It turned out that during the day, he used the true fire of the sun to merge with the聚灵珠, but he was afraid that the true fire of the sun would damage the small stone, so at night, he borrowed the power of太阴 to neutralize the true fire of the sun. The biggest characteristic of 阴阳和合大法 is to use the yin and yang energies between heaven and earth to enhance the cultivator's cultivation, consolidate the yuan Shen, and strengthen the body.

  After passing through the heavenly tribulation, Zhao Wujin's physical body was destroyed. His yuan Shen was damaged and trapped in the聚灵珠 (Spirit Gathering Pearl). Fortunately, with the Spirit Gathering Pearl, he could use the Yin Yang Harmony Great Method to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, cultivating his yuan Shen while slowly strengthening the small stone body. This is actually the first step in the small stone's cultivation, but it is precisely the opposite of other cultivation methods. Generally, Daoist cultivation starts from the inside out, first refining Qi, then refining Shen, and only then can one wield a magic sword or drive a treasure. Strengthening the physical body is an advanced technique, or one might even abandon physical cultivation altogether and focus solely on refining Qi and Shen. However, Zhao Wujin's method of cultivating the small stone was from the outside in, first strengthening the physical body to a certain extent before refining Qi and Shen. To outsiders, this would be unthinkable, because even if your physical body is cultivated to have skin as tough as copper and bones as hard as iron, it still wouldn't be able to withstand a single strike from a magic sword or treasure.

  The little stone didn't know that his body had quietly undergone a change. Zhao Wuji also seemed unwilling to tell him about these things.

  Zheng Lao Die had already prepared breakfast early, and Xiao Shi Tuo hastily ate a few mouthfuls before leaving. Being late to read books at the teacher's place would result in being hit with a board.

  As soon as he went out the door, he ran into Liu Pangzi, who had come to find Xiaoshi together to read books. As soon as they met, he asked, "Shitou, did you really go sunbathing yesterday?"

  The little stone said irritably, "Can't you use your brain? Who sunbathes at noon?"

  "Didn't you say so!" Liu Pangzi said innocently.

  "Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Have you reviewed your lessons? Don't fail to recite them again, or you'll get hit with the ruler like last time."

  "Stones, you also know. As soon as I see the master, I can't think of anything." Liu Pangzi's pitiful and lovely appearance was also very cute.

  "It's hopeless, you're usually very good at calculating, why can't you do it when you see the master?" Xiaoshi said. It's strange to say, but although Liu Baozi looks silly, he's actually quite skilled at calculating accounts, even his father Liu Zhanggui can't compare to him.

  Liu Pangzi made a bitter face and said "I don't know either, my mother said that the teacher is my nemesis, Shi Tou can you help me?"

  The little stone hastily shook his head "I don't dare to, or else we'll both get hit with a board again"

  Liu Pangzi shouted: "Shitou, you don't know what's right! How can you still call yourself my brother!"

  Xiao Shi Tou pretended not to hear and at this time Zhao Wu Jin asked "You two are very close, why didn't you help?"

  "The teacher also knew, so he looked very strict. Last time he caught him, ah! We played together from childhood to adulthood, everyone thought he was stupid and didn't want to play with him, but actually he's great at math." said Xiaoshi Tuo.

  "Is it? I really didn't see it," Zhao Wujin said in surprise.

  As expected, Liu Pangzi did not betray the trust and was beaten again. When he was being beaten, he cursed Xiao Shitou in his heart for not being loyal.

  Days go by day after day, Xiaoshi still reads books, plays and sleeps every day. The only difference is that there's an additional task "sunbathing".

  But Xiaoshi's body changed, and he grew taller. Every child will grow up, but others are calculated by year, while Xiaoshi is calculated by day. In just three short months, he grew seven or eight inches taller, and his clothes couldn't be made fast enough.

  Everyone who knew him thought it was unbelievable, but only Old Zheng didn't think there was anything wrong with it and chuckled "What's wrong with growing taller? My little Stone has grown up". Everyone secretly said that Little Stone was a freak.

  Then there was Liu Pangzi surrounding the little stone all day, asking what to eat to grow taller and why he himself developed horizontally. He was so entangled that he had no choice but to say "sunbathing makes you taller". As a result, Liu Pangzi shouted that it was unfair.

  Xiao Shi Tou also asked Zhao Wu Jin what was going on. Zhao Wu Jin said that he had reached the second level in his practice of the Yin Yang Harmony Great Method, and his powers were gradually increasing. Not only did it strengthen his Yuan Shen, but it also slowly changed Xiao Shi Tou's physique, strengthening his tendons and stretching his muscles, so he grew taller.

  The little stone didn't suspect that he had changed, but he didn't know that his physical transformation at this time was even more terrifying than what Zhao Wuji said. Due to the great power of the Yin Yang Harmony Great Method and the Gathering Spirit Pearl, within three months, his body had reached a state where ordinary people would say that knives and guns couldn't penetrate it.

  Zhao Wu Jin couldn't help but secretly laugh at him, saying "Foolish kid, you're addicted to sunbathing"

  It turned out that except for the first time sunbathing was too dangerous, after passing the first pass, it was smooth sailing, and there were no more dangers. However, Xiaoshi didn't know, thinking it was like the beginning, honestly sitting still and not daring to move.

  Today was the same, still at Fenghuo Tower. Although it's already the cold winter month, a big snow had just fallen yesterday. The ground was covered in a vast expanse of white, the wind was piercing and cold, all things were silent. Xiao Shitou's face was rosy, with a hint of jade-like complexion, his eyes were bright and spirited, his nose was straight and upturned. He stretched out his arms, let out a mouthful of air, and stood up. Looking at him, he didn't look like a 12-year-old kid at all, but rather a 16 or 17-year-old young man.

  "It's so comfortable! Big brother, what do you think?" Little Stone asked.

  "As expected, these three months have made such great progress, it's already beyond my expectations. Originally, I thought it would take at least a year to reach this level. The Spirit Gathering Pearl is indeed a good thing!" Zhao Wuji sighed again.

  "What's wrong with this?" Xiaoshi asked.

  "Not for this, but for you!"

  "For me?"

  "Don't you think your change is huge! In just three months, such an achievement!" Zhao Wuji said with some excitement.

  "Isn't it just getting taller? Is this also an achievement?" Xiaoshi was somewhat puzzled.

  "It's so cold, you've been sitting on the ground for an hour, someone else would have frozen to death. But you! You're still jumping around. Go ahead and walk some more."

  "If I take another step, I'll fall off! Ah! How could you......!"

  With a thud, the small stone fell directly from the beacon tower over three zhang high.

  "What are you doing? You'll get yourself killed!" Little Stone cried out as he lay on the ground.

  "If you want to die, then die!" Zhao Wuji said.

  The little stone got up, looked at the beacon tower, and then glanced at itself. It was so high that it didn't break. Excitedly said: "Brother Zhao, why didn't you tell me earlier? I'm also awesome!"

  "Foolish kid, it's just the beginning, let's see how far you'll go!" Zhao Wuji said calmly.

  Xiao Shi Tou was only twelve years old, shouted a few times, and rushed up to the beacon tower, jumping down from above. Nothing happened, and he continued to come and go several times.

  Look at him making a big fuss, Zhao Wuji finally said: "Alright, stop jumping around! I can't take it anymore."

  Xiao Shi's cheeks were flushed red, and he was still very excited. After calming down, he said apologetically: "Zhao Ge, thank you so much!"

  Zhao Wuji smiled and said: "Stone, we don't need to say thank you all the time! You should know that people still have to rely on themselves!"

  "Got it, I'll rely on myself!" Little Stone nodded.

  "Since you've made some progress in your cultivation, help me out tonight!" Zhao Wuji said.

  "Alright! What's up?"

  "Go to Qilian Mountain and bring back something!" The voice was slightly excited and a bit tense.

  Xiao Shi Tou had never heard him speak in such a tone before, and it seemed that this thing was very important to him, so he asked: "What thing? How are we going?"

  Zhao Wuji calmed down and said: "Go and run!"

  The little stone already knew his speaking habits, mysterious and mysterious. Had to say: "Well, go running!"

  Zhao Wuji didn't say anything else, as if his heart had already gone to Mount Qilian. What exactly was it? Xiao Shitou was very curious!

  The night had deepened, and the people of Red Gold Town had long since entered their dreams. But Xiao Shi Tou appeared on the big road outside the town, with cold winds howling and darkness shrouding the earth.

  Looking in the direction of Qilian Mountain, everything in front is pitch black. A small stone sighed and said, "Brother, you really know how to pick a day! Tonight there isn't even a moon!"

  "The moon is dark and the wind is high, it's just the right time for us to take action." Zhao Wuji smiled.

  Get things done! Are you going to kill people and set fires? Xiao Shi Tou doesn't have that kind of enthusiasm.

  "Alright, stop wasting time here!"

  "Big brother, why run!" Xiaoshi knew that even if they really ran to Qilian Mountain, they wouldn't be able to get there in a day.

  "Lend me your legs for a bit!"

  "Borrow legs?"

  The small stone only felt a surge of hot air coming out from his dantian, instantly filling his entire body. His whole body seemed to have endless energy. What a powerful force, it was uncontrollable and he needed to find a place to vent it.

  "What's wrong? Hurry up and run!"

  Yes, running is good. Xiaoshi also likes to run and has been faster than before recently. But tonight his leg strength was just too great.

  With each stride, he covers a distance of over three zhang, and with each landing, he leaves behind deep footprints, sending the snow on the ground flying in all directions. He is like a fierce gust of wind, no, even faster than the wind, with astonishing strength and speed.

  Frenzied running, small stones now can't hear or see anything. No sky, no earth, no self. Only desperate fleeing!

  I don't know how long it's been, I don't know how far I've run!

  "We've arrived, stop now!" Zhao Wuji's voice awakened Xiao Shi Tou who was almost in a frenzy.

  What place is this? Towering peaks rise all around, some high and some low, but only beneath one's own feet lies a vast empty space. Is this the Qilian Mountains?

  "You've already gone twenty miles into the Qilian Mountains!" Zhao Wuji said calmly.

  "How did I get in? Is there a road here?" Looking at the vast mountain in front of me, I really dare not imagine that I ran in.

  Zhao Wuji did not answer him, this was the place where he encountered the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation. Remembering that at that time, this was still a mountain ridge tens of feet high, unintentionally, he discovered the聚灵珠 in the belly of the mountain. What joy! Who would have thought, alas! A Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation indeed!

  Thinking of this, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

  He muttered to himself, whether in prayer, confession or invocation.

  "Let me run here, is it from talking to myself?"

  As Zhao Wuji muttered to himself, the snow on the ground within a radius of tens of meters around him was rapidly melting and evaporating, turning into waves of mist. There was no wind, no snow. Everything seemed to be waiting for its appearance!

  What about it?

  Small stone, no, it was Zhao Wuji who suddenly looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh, only to hear him shout "Chi Yan"!

  "Red Flame"! Not red flames!

  It's a sword! A crimson-colored sword!

  It bursts out of the ground and soars into the sky, piercing the heavens!

  Sword energy crisscrosses in the sky, a vast red glow illuminates the earth, casting a crimson hue over the land.

  Zhaō Wú Jìn's left hand pinched a seal, lightly drawing it in. His mouth hummed a low tune. The crimson flames revolved in the air several times before slowly descending and finally stopping in front of Zhao Wu Jin.

  Two feet eight inches, all over fiery red, emitting a faint glow! And scorching breath!

  Zhao Wu Jin held the Red Flame in his hand, a familiar breath, a long-lost feeling! He swung his arm and wielded his sword! The Red Flame let out a dragon's roar, its fiery aura bursting forth from his body!

  The current Zhao Wuji, to Xiaoshi's feeling is a sword with its blade exposed! With an air of looking down on the world! With a strong style that looks down on heaven and earth!

  Is this still Zhao Wujin who is living in his own body?

  Zhao Wujin's body glowed again, and the red flames in his hand suddenly surged with sword energy, transforming into a fire dragon that slashed down vertically. A loud crash left a deep mark on the ground!

  A huge echo reverberated in the mountains, and the scarlet flame gradually retracted its sharp edges, returning to a length of two feet eight inches.

  The little stone looked at the sword mark that was three feet deep, one foot wide and over twenty feet long, and stuck out its tongue, finally witnessing the great power of the Taoist sword technique.

  "Sorry, I used your body without your consent just now." Zhao Wuji returned to his usual calm after the sword had passed.

  Xiao Shi Tou didn't expect him to say that, and hastily said "No problem! No problem! Big brother, you're really amazing!" As he spoke, he looked at the Chi Yan sword in his hand. He then asked "Is it called Chi Yan?"

  "Yes, the Red Flame is the immortal sword I cultivated. When I was struck by the heavenly tribulation, I sealed it here. Today, I have come to retrieve it." Zhao Wuji said slowly.

  "Heavenly calamity, it can't be here!" Looking down at his feet, he was shocked by a small stone.

  "Originally, there was a mountain about thirty or forty zhang high under your feet. After the heavenly tribulation, it became like this." Zhao Wujin said leisurely.

  "It's too terrifying, no wonder... " Xiaoshi was shocked by the power of Tianjie and couldn't help but think that it was no wonder Zhao Wujin was beaten to a pulp.

  "No wonder I ended up like this!"

  Xiao Shi Tou waved the Chi Yan sword in his hand and said, "Big brother, why isn't this sword glowing anymore?" The Chi Yan sword now had no glow at all, its crimson body dull and lifeless, let alone any sword aura.

  "Chi Yan and my yuan Shen are connected, only I can use Chi Yang true energy to operate it. Others, even if they hold it in their hands, won't be able to use it. At that time, I sealed him here, didn't expect you to come for him so soon."

  "Ah! So that's how it is." The little stone said disappointedly, and asked "What is a seal?"

  "It's using the Taoist method to seal up the treasure or immortal sword, not letting the spiritual energy leak out. If it wasn't like this, it would have been discovered by Li Tianyuan and Gu Changfeng long ago."

  As soon as Li Tianyuan was mentioned, Xiaoshi thought of Li Qingtian and was about to speak when he heard the name Gu Changfeng, so he asked "Who is Gu Changfeng?"

  Zhao Wu Jin joked "I thought you were going to ask about Li Qing Tian." Xiao Shi Tou's face turned red, Zhao Wu Jin continued "Gu Chang Feng is a friend, he came here that day."

  "So you..."

  Zhao Wu Jin knew what he was going to say "He can't help me".

  In fact, he was unwilling to ask for help. That person's cultivation was extremely high, and with his help, things would naturally be twice as easy. It's just that he didn't want to ask others for help, let alone when Lian Tianyan was still here!

  "The Red Flame has been obtained, let's go home!" Zhao Wuji said.

  The little stone nodded, looked around at the big mountains, and said with a bitter face, "Do we have to run back?"

  "Cut the crap, let's get started!"

  Give strength to the small stone, let it run wildly!