'Could she be that Qing'er?' Bai Lian's thoughts had become chaotic with the mention of a single name. She had, unconsciously, stopped humming, ignoring all that was around her. All her thoughts were focused on that single name.
She knew someone or some people used the crown prince to kill her. However, she was not certain who it was or why they would wanted her dead. Her only clue was that single name.
Bai Lian's attention was pulled back to reality when the Sacred Flame Sect disciples mentioned bringing flowers back for their master. Bai Lian grew nervous as she sighed to herself, 'This will be troublesome… They will naturally pick the most beautiful flower, me. How should I deal with this?'
Countless of counter strategies formed within her mind, 'If they try to pluck me, then I will have to fight back. However, I can't kill them. The Sacred Flame Sect would send experts to investigate this lake if their disciples were to go missing. Erase their memories? Mm… I can't wipe out their entire memories like I did to Zhou Ming due to the Sacred Flame Sect. However, it would be difficult to control which memories I erase. Also, can I really do that in front of the children?'
Contrary to Bai Lian's thoughts, the black-robed man picked a couple of flowers near the edge of the lake. 'I'm lucky these men don't have an eye for beauty.'
She focused on the two children once more as she resumed her humming. Thoughts regarding the Qing lady were momentarily pushed to the back of her mind.
Lin Tao relaxed when he heard the gentle humming resume and he finally answered the grey-robed man, "Our master is Shui Renshu."
The grey-robed man narrowed his eyes, "That old man… Although he was born in the Shui Clan, he had an affinity for fire qi. I heard our great sect once offered him entrance into our sect. However, he refused."
The man flashed a cold smile.
"Donghai! They're just children. Our Sacred Flame Sect does not murder young children, " Murong Qing hurriedly advised. Her eyes emitted disgust when she realized her brother disciple's intentions.
Sun Donghai sneered, "Even if they are currently children, one day they will grow to be enemies of our sect. We should weed them out before they grow into trouble."
Sun Donghai began to draw his sword, ignoring his sister disciple's protests. Anger flared within Murong Qing as she reached towards her own sword, "I won't allow you to trample over the prestige of our sect!"
Lin Tao and Ji Yun had already taken out their weapons from their spatial rings.
'This is the first time I've seen their weapons. A spear and a pair of daggers? Shui Renshu is quite skilled to be able to teach more than one weapon.' Bai Lian shifted her focus to Murong Qing, 'The Qing'er in my head isn't this kind and honorable… Perhaps she's not the one.'
Sun Donghai was about to make his first move. However, a sudden voice stopped him.
"Impudent! To attempt such actions before the Guardian Spirit of the Obsidian Forest… You people are merely outer disciples of that man's sect. Yet, you dare act so arrogantly in my forest."
The Sacred Flame Sect disciples were shocked. Although they had never heard of a spirit that guards over the Obsidian Forest, the confidence and aura of authority entwined within the mysterious, gentle voice assured them of one thing, the owner of this voice should not be messed with.
Lin Tao and Ji Yun were just as shocked as the Sacred Flame Sect disciples, 'Is it really alright for granny to reveal herself?'
The red-robed lady was the first to respond, "Why have I never heard of the Guardian Spirit of the Obsidian Forest before? What do you mean by 'that man's sect'? Also, how do you know we're outer disciples of the Sacred Flame Sect?" Although she asked the questions in quick succession, her tone remained polite.
The minds of the Sacred Flame Sect disciples were littered with questions. However, they did not bother trying to ask every one of their questions.
The gentle voice let out a sigh, "I only go to sleep for a few generations and everyone has already forgotten about me. How sorrowful." Rather than sorrow, the voice gave off a sense of ridicule.
The guardian spirit continued, "By 'that man's sect,' who else could I be referring to other than the God of Fire. He used to be just a little brat that would pester my sworn sister, but somehow he's some kind of big shot now. It seems even the outer disciples of his sect dares to act so brazenly."
"Y-you dare speak about the God of Fire that way?" Although the white-robed man's voice was filled with anger, his eyes revealed traces of fear, 'For someone to speak so disrespectfully towards the gods… How strong is this spirit?'
A bell-like giggle rang throughout their minds, "No need to worry about me. I'm different from you, spineless mortals. I'll only speak arrogantly if I have the power to back my words."
Hidden by the grass, a single root silently poked up from the ground underneath Sun Donghai. With no warning, the man was set ablaze.
The other four Sacred Flame Sect disciples widened their eyes in shock as they listened to their brother disciple's screams. As fire spirit masters, they all had increased resistance to fire. However, this was no ordinary fire. It resembled the flames of a legendary phoenix!
Even the white and black-robed men who were 20 meters away from the fire began to sweat. They eyed themselves to affirmed they were not the ones who were burning. When their worried eyes met, they both thought to themselves, 'We're already fire spirit grandmasters, but the fire feels this hot at this distance! Just how strong is this spirit?'
Terror took over Sun Donghai as he tried to remove the flames. He took out a rank 4 glacial armour pill and swallowed it. A layer of ice formed around his body. He circulated qi throughout his body and through the ice armor, strengthening it. However, the unbearable heat still seeped through the armor.
Sun Donghai tried to run out of the fire. However, the fire was stuck to him. In fact, the fire was only burning him. Not a single corner or the grass below him were singed. This was only noticed by the observers as they thought to themselves, 'Such amazing control over the fire!'
Bai Lian also observed her abilities, 'It seems my control has improved since brewing medicine for Zhou Ming.'
The black-robed man noticed Sun Donghai could not remove the fire from himself. He creased his brows as he took out a bottle of spirit water. He prepared to pour the water over the fire. However, his arm froze as a gentle, but cold voice stopped him.
"Do not help him or else the next ones to be set ablaze will be the four of you. This is his retribution for trying to stain my holy forest with the blood of two young children."
Murong Qing raised a brow, "Since when was the Obsidian Forest so holy?"
"It's a holy forest as long as this guardian spirit is awake and present."
The guardian spirit's response caused the four Sacred Flame Sect disciples to crease their brows. They shifted their gaze away from their brother disciple. The strength of that fire was enough to convince them that if they desired to keep their lives, they could not offend the guardian spirit.
The four sibling disciples' hearts ached as they heard Sun Donghai's screams. Lin Tao and Ji Yun were also uncomfortable with hearing the screams. However, they did not voice any objections. After all, that man had wanted to kill them a couple of minutes ago.
Sun Donghai felt hopeless as his eyes scanned his surroundings, 'How the heck am I supposed to fight against a spirit who does not even have a physical body?!?!'
He let out a roar as he gave up on saving himself. Sun Donghai gathered fire qi and shot the fire towards the surrounding trees, "Guardian spirit, you say? Then go ahead and try to protect your forest!"
He had used the last of his strength in that fire. After his final shout, Sun Donghai lost consciousness. Upon noticing the man was no longer conscious as he laid on the ground burning, Bai Lian reduced the heat of the flames and attached some roots beneath him and began absorbing from him, 'There is still not much dark qi within his body. It's best if I try to absorb more from him now.'
Bai Lian stared at the fire that Sun Donghai had shot out. 'The strength of a spirit master who is at the peak of spirit grand warrior should not be underestimated. Although his fire is not nearly as strong as my own fire, it's definitely not weak. I do not think my water would be strong enough to put out that fire.'
As Bai Lian was pondering over what to do, Lin Tao had already begun to run towards the fire. He swung his spear upwards and smashed it towards the ground, generating a wall of ice that grew from the ground. The ice wall intersected the fire.
The loud collision of the two created a burst of wind as mist began to fill the area. Even after the collision, a slight ringing could still be heard. However, with each passing second, the ringing grew quieter.
The four remaining disciples of the Sacred Flame Sect widened their eyes in surprise, 'So young… Yet, he was able to match up against Sun Donghai's fire?!?!'
Bai Lian was just as surprised. She silently gawked at the young boy, '...As expected of someone this legendary guardian spirit has taken in as a disciple… I always knew he was fated for greatness…'
The black-robed man could no longer withstand the silence as he nervously spoke up, "Honorable spirit, how do you plan on dealing with the four of us?"