In That Distant Dark Room

在那遥远的小黑屋

in-that-distant-dark-room

Picking the Fire Lotus

The continent where Zhang Jingmo resided was divided into three parts, each separated by vast oceans. Only those who had reached the Nascent Soul cultivation level had the ability to fly across those immense oceans.
Back when Zhang Jingmo had achieved this cultivation level, he had wandered the three continents and seen the styles across the entire cultivation world.
The Lingxu Sect was located on the central continent and was one of the top three sects there. The sect produced generations of geniuses, but for Zhang Jingmo to be able to sit in the position of elder, he naturally had his own outstanding qualities.
After being reborn, Zhang Jingmo abandoned alchemy and wholeheartedly sought the Dao. Now that he had calmed down and carefully thought about it, he realized that he had inevitably fallen into a demonic state.
The current Zhang Jingmo who had been reborn this time had already made up his mind to walk a path he had never taken before.
Pingrui Prefecture was in the height of spring, with all flowers in bloom, displaying a vibrant scene of vitality. It was now sunset, and on the paths between the fields walked several travelers who seemed out of place amidst the rustic atmosphere.
Among them was a man wearing a white robe embroidered with plum blossoms. His hair was loosely tied behind his head, and a striking phoenix-patterned belt hung around his waist. His delicate features carried a hint of melancholy. Although not extremely handsome, his temperament was quite unique.
Behind the man followed a woman in a green dress. This woman had a beautiful appearance and a slender figure. As she followed behind the man, she would occasionally say something to him. The man would only respond after hearing several sentences.
Walking at the very back was a stooped old man. The old man had an aged face but steady steps. He silently followed behind the woman without participating in their conversation no matter what the two in front said.
The man seemed to be moving slowly, but upon careful observation, one would notice that his feet never actually touched the mud ridges in the field, instead floating slightly above the ground.
Although the woman and the old man stepped on the field ridges, their shoes did not get stained with any mud.
As the man walked, he suddenly stopped and softly said, "Zhuxun, we've arrived."
The woman addressed as Zhuxun slightly nodded her head and lowered her gaze, saying, "Yes, my lord."
The man still had a melancholic expression. He asked, "Since the location has been found, are the items prepared?"
Lu Zhuxun replied, "I have found a person with a matching fate."
The man said, "Then I'll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Go and bring that person here."
Lu Zhuxun showed a difficult expression. "But my lord, that person is in a small mountain village a hundred miles away from here... If I go and come back, I'm afraid one incense stick won't be enough."
Hearing this, the melancholy in the man's eyes deepened. He said, "Could it be that you want me to find a way to help you?"
A layer of cold sweat formed on Lu Zhuxun's back. She said, "This servant doesn't dare."
The man didn't say anything, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
Seeing this, Lu Zhuxun could only grit her teeth and take off on her magic tool, flying towards the direction of the small town. After she flew far away, the man finally said, "Do you think she can return on time?"
The old man lowered his head and slowly shook it.
The man slightly narrowed his eyes, and a faint mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The time it took for one incense stick to burn quickly passed. By the time Lu Zhuxun returned to this field in Pingrui Prefecture, she had already exceeded the time the man had requested. When Lu Zhuxun landed from the sky, a thin layer of sweat had accumulated on her forehead. She glanced at the crying and struggling six-year-old child in her hands, then at the man standing there, still with a melancholic expression. In the end, she couldn't help but say, "My lord, this is just a six-year-old child..."
The man said, "Zhuxun, you're late."
Lu Zhuxun knelt down with a bitter expression on her face. She wanted to say something but was silenced by the man's gaze. The child in her hands also seemed to be afraid of the man in front of them, and his cries grew weaker.
The man said, "Tell me, how should I punish you?"
Lu Zhuxun's entire body trembled violently. She said with a bitter smile, "However Lord Tianfeng wants to punish me."
Tianfeng sighed. He said, "Zhuxun, for this human sacrifice, you will be the one to do it."
Lu Zhuxun knelt on the ground, pressing her forehead against the earth as well. Even if she had a thousand words to say, she still didn't dare utter them in front of this person. She could only inwardly lament, thinking that if she had known the human sacrifice would be carried out by her, she would rather not have this petal of the Fire Lotus...
Tianfeng looked up at the sky, then calculated the time. He said, "It's about time. Let's go."
Only then did Lu Zhuxun get up from the ground and take the small child, who had cried to the point of nearly fainting, into her arms.
A moment later, the three people disappeared from the field ridges. The only traces left behind were the small footprints of the child in the mud.
Tianfeng used a Ground Traversal Talisman, allowing the three of them to directly enter the earth's core.
During the process of traversing underground, Tianfeng constantly calculated the directions and distances. They quickly arrived at the place where the Fire Lotus was discovered.
The Fire Lotus grows in lava, and it takes a thousand years from sprouting to growing. If one wants it to bloom into a complete flower, it requires the perfect combination of timing, location, and human effort, none of which can be lacking.
Under the erosion of the lava, the place where the Fire Lotus grew had turned into a cave, with the surrounding rocks melted by the high temperature.
Lu Zhuxun was enveloped by green spiritual energy, protecting her from the lava's erosion. She stood behind Tianfeng and said, "My lord, this servant cannot accurately calculate when this Fire Lotus will bloom."
Tianfeng narrowed his eyes slightly. "One year from now."
Lu Zhuxun didn't expect it to take that long. She said, "One year later? Then should we go up first..."
Tianfeng sighed again. He said, "Zhuxun, what exactly were you doing when your master was teaching?"
Lu Zhuxun was stunned for a moment, then said with embarrassment, "I... I just didn't remember clearly..."
Tianfeng didn't say anything more and casually tossed a bamboo slip into Lu Zhuxun's hand.
Lu Zhuxun took the bamboo slip and quickly scanned through the contents, her face turning slightly red. She said, "My lord..."
It turned out that although the Fire Lotus would only fully mature after a year, if they waited until then to pick it, it would instead lose most of its medicinal properties. This was because during the blooming process, the Fire Lotus would exhaust most of its energy. The best time to pick the Fire Lotus was when there were still over than a hundred days before it bloomed. But if one had rare treasures, it could also be picked at this time.
Since they had come here, they were already prepared. The reason why Tianfeng brought Lu Zhuxun was because her destined magic treasure could restrain the Fire Lotus, allowing it to be picked intact from the lava.
Tianfeng waved his hand, the melancholy on his face growing thicker. If he didn't speak and just sat there, those who didn't know him would probably think he was a sickly noble son. But those who had seen his way of doing things would never associate him with the word "weak".
The young child protected in Lu Zhuxun's arms seemed unable to bear the stimulation and had already fainted. Tianfeng said, "Bring out the Yin-Yang Cauldron."
Lu Zhuxun responded with a low "Yes". She closed her eyes slightly, and after a moment, took out her destined magic treasure, the Yin-Yang Cauldron, from her dantian. She said, "Lord Tianfeng..."
Tianfeng said, "Speak."
Lu Zhuxun said, "This blood sacrifice..."
Tianfeng said coldly, "Lu Zhuxun, have I treated you too leniently in the past, making you forget your place?"
Lu Zhuxun pursed her lips and swallowed the words she wanted to say back into her throat. She looked towards where the Fire Lotus was growing, and saw a lotus as red as fresh blood blooming in the lava. The lotus had about a dozen petals, each one flawless and with a texture like jade.
Around the lotus, there was a layer of blood-colored mist. From a distance, red flames could be seen flickering in and out of the mist.
The Fire Lotus was an unparalleled tool for refining fire-type magic treasures. Even their extravagant Kuchan Valley only had five or six of them. The reason Lu Zhuxun was able to see this heaven and earth spirit object this time was thanks to her Yin-Yang Cauldron.
Lu Zhuxun had grown up with her master since she was young and had never stained her hands with blood. Now, being asked to place a six-year-old child into the cauldron and then send it into the Fire Lotus to be refined was a bit too much to ask of her.
Looking at the misty-eyed child in her arms, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth. However, under Tianfeng's gaze, she still didn't dare disobey orders and could only slowly place the child into the cauldron.
The six-year-old child seemed to sense something and started crying at the top of his lungs again. His wailing cries pierced Lu Zhuxun's ears, making her unable to close the cauldron's lid.
Tianfeng didn't persuade her and just watched coldly from the side.
In the end, Lu Zhuxun gritted her teeth, steeled her heart, and closed the lid of the cauldron.
Tianfeng said, "Why bother."
Lu Zhuxun was startled, thinking Tianfeng meant she was too merciful, and sobbed, "How dare this humble servant not obey my lord's orders."
However, upon hearing this, Tianfeng just scoffed lightly. He said, "I mean you, why bother pretending."
Lu Zhuxun showed a look of astonishment.
Tianfeng said, "If you really didn't want the Fire Lotus, you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of finding a boy born on a yin year, yin day, and yin hour. If you really had a merciful heart, you wouldn't have agreed to the blood sacrifice."
Lu Zhuxun opened her mouth to argue but found that she couldn't find the words to refute him.
Tianfeng said, "On this path of cultivation, what's scary isn't evil or good, but those who commit great sins yet harbor a cowardly heart. With every deed, they feel guilty, and even if they get what they want, it's hard for them to have a clear mind."
Tears flowed down Lu Zhuxun's cheeks. She didn't reach out to wipe them, only heavily closing the last gap of the cauldron with her hand.
Tianfeng glanced at Lu Zhuxun and said indifferently, "Go."
Lu Zhuxun nodded in agreement and gathered spiritual energy on the cauldron, slowly lifting it up.
Although the cauldron was small, it had its own universe inside. Logically, a child of a few years old placed inside the cauldron would quickly lose their life, but even until Lu Zhuxun lifted the Yin-Yang Cauldron into the air, they could still hear the child's cries.
Lu Zhuxun didn't seem to notice anything unusual, but Tianfeng frowned. He was about to call for a stop when he saw Lu Zhuxun suddenly drive the Yin-Yang Cauldron and fly towards where the Fire Lotus was growing.
Just as the Yin-Yang Cauldron touched the Fire Lotus, a sudden change occurred!

In That Distant Dark Room

In That Distant Dark Room

Chapter 19 - Picking the Fire Lotus

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