Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Radiance of Seven Colors

During the month that the Wang family’s fleet sailed along the Hun River, Yang Nan and Buxu were on the verge of completing their cultivation. Within that time, the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang drew immense spiritual energy from the Profound Flame Sword, reforging their meridians countless times, and Buxu’s injuries improved day by day. Yet, the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang demanded incredible mental focus. Over the course of the month, Yang Nan managed to refine only the first layer of the second stage of the Undying Yin Wheel. Strangely, however, the Profound Azure Water Art flourished like a fish in water within the Pure Void Divine Mansion, advancing from the initial stage for spellcasters to the third stage. Three azure dragon phantoms had already taken shape, greatly enhancing Yang Nan’s spiritual power. This progress left him both amused and exasperated: along this journey, he had not practiced any of the authentic martial arts of the Weapon Sect, yet his mastery of the Daoist arts of the Spell Sect had soared, causing him to shake his head in resignation.

Each time he used the Yin Wheel to absorb spiritual energy and was left mentally exhausted, Yang Nan would activate the Profound Azure Water Art to draw boundless energy from the Immortal Mansion, restoring his magical power. This back-and-forth cycle made his progress in the Profound Azure Water Art swift and inevitable. The Supreme Demonic Body method, aided by his mastery of water-based powers, had also reached the level of a hundred demon-strengths. With the support of a hundred demon soldiers, his transformed demonic body became even more formidable, almost matching the level of a top-tier master. However, Yang Nan’s appearance after transformation was truly terrifying, resembling a deity or demon descending from the netherworld, which astonished Die Yi and the other women who witnessed it.

Time was meaningless within the Pure Void Grotto. One day, after Yang Nan and Buxu again activated the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang to enter the Profound Flame Sword, they noticed that their repeated absorption of spiritual energy had made the sea of fire inside the sword increasingly violent. Within the Profound Flame Sword lingered the soul imprint of its former master, Realman Qingfeng. Normally, the two dared not disturb this imprint, but it now seemed aware of the Undying Wheel’s presence; whenever the wheel entered the sword’s world, the imprint grew restless.

“Don’t worry about it for now. After this absorption, we won’t need to return,” Buxu conveyed to Yang Nan through the Wheel, her recovered powers letting her communicate her thoughts with ease.

Yang Nan quietly nodded, and his spirit, within the Yin Wheel, opened its serpent-like maw to devour endless spiritual energy. The energy in the sea of fire grew ever more turbulent. Buxu was about to warn Yang Nan to stop, when suddenly, the boundless sea of fire transformed, spawning countless fire dragons, firebirds, and fire cranes. These rare avian flames spread their wings and shrieked, lunging at the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang!

The Wheel’s harmonious blend of Yin and Yang rendered the attacks of these fire-born creatures ineffective; they could strike but not truly harm Yang Nan and Buxu. Yet, the situation was grim. If the pair’s mental strength ran out and the wheels separated, they would be unable to withstand the assault and would be instantly incinerated, their deaths beyond comprehension.

To their horror, Yang Nan and Buxu realized that the endless, all-encompassing sea of fire had completely surrounded the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang. Fire creatures and rare beasts emerged ceaselessly, so numerous as to seem infinite. Atop a fire dragon’s head stood a long-bearded Daoist in azure robes, sneering coldly at the Undying Wheel: “What manner of fiend dares enter the divine sword seeking death?”

Yang Nan was struck with terror; the Undying Yin Wheel quivered, nearly falling into the sea of fire. He recalled Buxu’s warnings: every weapon of the Weapon Sect contained a soul imprint of its master. Should an enemy attempt to enter a magical weapon, the soul imprint would channel the weapon’s energy to utterly destroy them!

Though Realman Qingfeng was long dead, his soul imprint persisted eternally within the Profound Flame Sword. Even with Buxu’s cultivation as a venerated Weapon Sect master, outside the sword she could suppress its power, but within it—as the Wheel of Yin and Yang—escape was their only hope.

Sensing Yang Nan’s panic, Buxu’s spirit spoke calmly to him: “Do not panic. We are indeed in dire straits, but for a short time, they cannot break the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang. Only by joining forces to escape the sword do we have a chance; otherwise, our spirits will be annihilated.”

The Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang harbored both their souls, and the slightest misstep would bring disaster. Realman Qingfeng’s soul imprint showed no mercy—for it was not his true self, but an undying fragment of his spirit. Unless its master returned, it would attack any intruder within the weapon without exception!

The moment the pair hesitated, the demonic flames of the boundless sea grew ever more frenzied. Countless fire creatures shrieked as they lunged at the Undying Wheel, so densely packed that there was nowhere to hide. Yang Nan and Buxu suffered blow after blow; the Wheel was nearly forced apart. If Yin and Yang separated, the loss of their balance would see them consumed by the raging flames, perishing in an instant without knowing how they died.

Resolute by nature, Buxu drove the Yang Wheel forward, charging desperately toward the outside world. Yang Nan could only follow close behind. Yet, the flames were omnipresent; every attempt at escape was blocked by endless fiery creatures, forcing them back again and again.

Though the Wheel’s balance of Yin and Yang shielded them, their spirits gradually waned. Realman Qingfeng’s soul imprint stood at a distance, coldly driving the fire creatures to surround the Wheel ever more tightly, waiting for the moment their magic failed and the wheels separated.

The endless flames wore away at every last shred of their spirits within the Wheel. Each time they resisted, their magic was quickly drained by the relentless fire.

Yang Nan cursed inwardly; this time, it seemed he would truly suffer a devastating defeat. The soul imprint showed no mercy, caring nothing for his status as a disciple of Kunlun; any who entered the sword were its enemies, and their fate seemed doomed.

Just as the pair were at their wit’s end, on the verge of despair, a faint vibration sounded from outside the Profound Flame Sword. Into the world of fire flew a tiny point of light, at first no larger than a bean, which, upon reaching the Wheel, transformed into a three- or four-year-old child dressed in rainbow robes, exquisitely carved and solemn-faced. He radiated streams of seven-colored divine light, enshrouding the Undying Wheel. Instantly, the fire creatures that had been leaping at the Wheel were repelled by the rainbow radiance. Realman Qingfeng’s soul imprint, furious, drove the flames to attack again, but they could not break through.

Substantial as reality, the seven-colored divine light descended from the heavens, enveloping Yang Nan and Buxu, whose spirits were nearly exhausted. This radiance formed an eternal, indestructible shield, tightly wrapping the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang.

The strange child said nothing, but his face was taut with concentration. Buxu, ever perceptive, instantly recognized the rainbow light as their sole hope. She and Yang Nan together urged the Wheel forward, escaping at high speed beneath the protection of the divine light. Once they were free of the sword, the Profound Flame Sword suddenly leapt up, writhing like a dragon through the Pure Void Immortal Mansion, spitting flames several meters high as though seeking the Undying Wheel’s whereabouts.

Having narrowly escaped death, Yang Nan and Buxu paid no heed to the sword’s strange movements. They quickly guided the Undying Wheel of Yin and Yang into Buxu’s dantian, where it emitted a luminous bead. Their healing nearly complete, they proceeded with practiced ease, the golden dragon and black serpent chasing and playing within Buxu’s body.

When Buxu’s meridians had fully recovered, her magical power surged like the Yangtze in flood. At that moment, the Yin Wheel containing Yang Nan’s soul was gently expelled by the surging, masculine energy within Buxu, casting it outside her body. At once, the Profound Flame Sword shot toward Yang Nan, who was startled and quickly drew the Yin Wheel back to his brow, returning it to the mouth of his Yin-Eroding magical weapon.

With the Yin Wheel vanished from sight, the Profound Flame Sword grew even more frenzied, darting madly through the Pure Void Immortal Mansion. Buxu rose slowly, her eyes shining with divine light. With a gentle gesture, she called, “Come to me!”

The Profound Flame Sword struggled fiercely, trying to break free from Buxu’s control, but she had already summoned the Coiling Dragon. Golden threads descended from the heavens, binding the sword tightly. Unable to escape, it could only submit and allow Buxu to draw it down.

Yang Nan stood up, recalling the perilous scene just past; his back was still cold with fear. Within the Profound Flame Sword, no matter what powers he possessed, they were useless. Without that strange seven-colored light, he and Buxu would surely have perished, their souls obliterated.

“What a narrow escape…” Yang Nan wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He watched as Buxu placed the Profound Flame Sword back into its jade box. The box was innately cold, naturally suppressing fire-based energy, and once the sword was inside, it gradually settled down.

Buxu glanced back at Yang Nan with a smile, her eyes full of the same relief. Though she still wore the face of a plain village girl, her star-bright eyes lent her an extraordinary air. Remembering her peerless beauty, Yang Nan could not help but feel a secret longing.

Having endured this tribulation together, the two had drawn closer still. Now, with Buxu’s radiance restored and her magical powers fully recovered, she was no longer cautious and on edge, but instead exuded calm mastery. After a moment’s thought, she said to Yang Nan, “That seven-colored divine light just now was most peculiar. Do you know its origin?”

Yang Nan gave a wry smile. He did not know the child, but how could he not recognize the seven-colored light? Though the child vanished after leaving the Profound Flame Sword, Yang Nan knew that, aside from the strange little copper coin of unknown origin hanging from his chest, there was nowhere else in this world where such a seven-colored radiance could be found.