The Zhan Family.
"It must be A-Xiang's Earth Soul," Jiao Er speculated. "Who would've thought that the Earth Soul has grown this powerful? If A-Xiang can fuse with it, his potential will truly be limitless. Unfortunately, despite all these years of searching for his Heavenly Soul, we've found nothing."
Through a transmission talisman, news of the events in the Infernal Prison was being relayed to the outside world.
The Li and Huo families, learning that Zhan Tianxiang could wield the mighty Shura Blood Sword, could no longer remain idle. They immediately issued a kill order: Zhan Tianxiang must not leave the Infernal Prison alive.
"It does come as a surprise," remarked Zhan Chengping, the patriarch of the Zhan family. He sat leisurely under the veranda, feeding a parrot with spirit fruits. Despite appearing in his thirties, his elegance and handsomeness were undeniable. "Sometimes, I wonder—if the Earth Soul were to take over A-Xiang's body, would it perhaps be a better outcome?"
Jiao Er shook his head in disagreement. "The Earth Soul is far too unbridled, ruthless, and cruel. It's not suitable. A-Xiang, on the other hand, is kind, gentle, honest, and considerate. He's quite like how you used to be."
"Used to be…" Zhan Chengping's expression grew distant.
Once, he too was proud and idealistic, believing that dual cultivation was unfair to women of the Mu clan. He endured the pain of reaching Core Formation alone, only to fail in his first attempt at forming a Nascent Soul, leading to his descent into madness...
Fear overtook him...
After feeding the parrot, Zhan Chengping brushed off his robes and stood. "Youthful folly isn't worth mentioning. My youngest son is pitiful, though—a constant source of worry. That's why I've done everything I can to protect him from harm in secret. And what does he do? He goes and smashes the Heavenly Stele because someone told him the girl he likes might be in the Infernal Prison."
Jiao Er remained silent.
"Why did I have such a son?" Zhan Chengping's voice rose with frustration.
"A-Xiang is still young and acted on impulse."
"Then he will pay for his impulsiveness. If he doesn't want a peaceful life, I'll train him properly from now on."
As they spoke, the transmission talisman at Zhan Chengping's waist vibrated.
He listened intently, his expression shifting slightly.
"What is it?" Jiao Er asked.
"There really is an Otherworldly Fire in the Infernal Prison," Zhan Chengping said with a frown. "And that little girl got it."
The secret of Jian Xiaolou possessing an Otherworldly Fire was exposed.
Her initial plan was to use the Vermillion Lotus of Demon Suppression to subdue the demonic energy in Zhan Tianming. However, once inside the Soul Heaven Realm, the Vermillion Lotus refused to cooperate and even rained down firestorms on her.
No matter how much she negotiated, the lotus remained obstinate. Left with no choice, she exited the realm and devised another plan: using the Dual Form Fusion Technique to stall Zhan Tianming.
Then, she heard the voice of Night Roam.
"Why do you always find yourself in danger?"
Jian Xiaolou snapped back, "Because I don't have the godlike powers to roam freely in the Nine Heavens like you do."
"I'll teach you a way to subdue the Vermillion Lotus."
"What way?"
"Ask Suhe."
"..."
Suhe's mocking laughter came through. "Oh? And if she asks, I'll just tell her? Who does she think she is?"
Night Roam's voice followed. "Do you know what Suhe is doing right now?"
Jian Xiaolou was too busy resisting the demonic energy to care about a bird's antics.
But Suhe's tone suddenly softened. "As an elder, it's only right to guide the younger generation. To subdue the Vermillion Lotus is simple. That little myna bird you have? It's the lotus's original master. As I've said before, as long as its original body exists, the lotus will remain. Destroy the original, and the lotus will disappear."
"So what do I do?"
"Threaten it. Tell it that if it doesn't obey you, you'll slaughter the bird—boil, fry, steam, or roast it. It'll have no choice but to comply."
Jian Xiaolou was speechless. "Do you think it's that stupid?"
"An inner core is not as clever as you think. It knows nothing of human emotions. Threaten it."
It sounded plausible. Jian Xiaolou decided to give it a try.
Returning to the Soul Heaven Realm, she followed Suhe's advice and threatened the lotus. To her surprise, the eighteen-petaled Vermillion Lotus quivered in fear.
In the end, through this bizarre method, she subdued the lotus. The Vermillion Lotus folded its petals and transformed into a palm-sized lotus lamp that merged into her Sea of Consciousness.
Though she succeeded in suppressing Zhan Tianming's demonic energy with karmic fire, the unanticipated side effect was a massive explosion of fiery energy, engulfing her and shaking the entire molten waterfall.
The commotion outside came to an abrupt halt as every cultivator stopped fighting, stunned.
"Has a treasure appeared?"
"It's an Otherworldly Fire!"
"Who obtained it?!"
In the chaos, Jian Xiaolou, already exhausted, contemplated her next move.
Her troubles, it seemed, were only beginning.