Chapter 2167: The Vermilion Bird's Soul-Comforting Melody
The burning of the Vermilion Bird’s flame not only showed no sign of ceasing, but instead grew ever more intense, as if it wished to fuse the entire canopy of the Pure Land into a deep crimson glow, even the light of day being dyed through by this divine flame, transforming into flowing patterns of red gold.
When the eighth drop of source blood condensed between those withered fingers, the voice of Su Shang Divine Attendant was also completely submerged by the flame light… But, the hand of Lingxian Divine Official still did not withdraw, and in her palm, the ninth drop of divine blood was gathering.
The breath of the Vermilion Bird True God was so terrifying that if it were anyone else at this moment, they would have long since lost their spiritual perception and had their mind overwhelmed. Yet Yun Che could clearly perceive the vast divine aura contained within the nine drops of divine blood before him…
These were by no means ordinary Vermilion Bird essence blood, but rather source blood that originated from the very foundation of the Vermilion Bird, rooted in the core of its life pulse, with absolutely no possibility of regeneration.
And with each drop lost, it was accompanied by a loss of lifespan.
It was a sacrifice that, in the truest sense, harmed oneself to bless another.
The flames upon her body grew increasingly gentle, but the abyss of fire in Lingxian Divine Official’s eyes dimmed layer by layer. Yun Che opened his mouth several times, forcing out a voice through the True God’s flame breath: “Senior… do… not…”
They had only just met; he did not know what virtue or ability he possessed to deserve such a heavy bestowal from her. If it were merely to extend the Vermilion Bird flame, a single drop of such root essence blood would have been more than enough!
Lingxian Divine Official paid him no heed, and the ninth drop of Vermilion Bird divine blood fully condensed upon her fingertip.
Finally, she made a move. Her five fingers slowly drew together, and after a brief pause, her index finger suddenly extended, pointing at the center of Yun Che’s brow.
In an instant, the world before Yun Che’s eyes transformed into a boundless crimson sea of flame. A powerful, ancient, and inconceivably warm heat current slowly flowed through his entire body. His flesh, his profound meridian space, and his soul sea were all bathed in a gorgeous and gentle crimson glow, driving away all physical pain and burning away all negative emotions.
It was a sense of peace he had never experienced since setting foot in the Abyss, making him involuntarily want to sink into it, to rest comfortably in this divine warmth.
In the midst of the boundless warmth and peace, he captured a faint trace of longing.
At that moment, he suddenly understood why Lingxian Divine Official had allowed her appearance to age, and why she had bestowed upon him such an extravagant gift.
Three million years of foolish longing and waiting, yet her figure had never been able to reflect in the lusterless eyes of Mo Su, no matter how much more beautiful and radiant her divine posture might have been a hundredfold or a thousandfold, it was destined to never stir even the slightest ripple in his gaze…
Thus, her heart and soul gradually lost hope, her appearance withered, and her lifespan had also drawn near its end.
And now, a person had appeared in the world who could move his heart and fix his gaze… So, let her Vermilion Bird flame burn upon his body, to take her place in accompanying him, and to continue her vigil.
Compared to the inheritance of the Vermilion Bird flame, this was perhaps the “fulfillment of her wish” that she spoke of.
Another clear, melodious cry resounded through heaven and earth, awakening Yun Che’s consciousness from the warm sea of flames.
He opened his eyes. The world before him was rapidly losing its golden-red halo. The Vermilion Bird’s divine shadow, with its wings spanning ten thousand miles, seemed to have had its soul breath drawn away. The fiery glaze light flowing on its feathers began to dim layer by layer, like the last hint of vivid color in a dying sunset.
At the tips of its tail feathers, there were no longer any falling sparks. When the echoing cry faded completely into the distance, the blazing Vermilion Bird divine shadow shattered in an instant, bursting into countless fine embers that scattered across the sky with the breeze like a river of stars falling, or like fireflies bidding farewell to the evening.
The surging crimson glow ahead transformed into layers of light veils, slowly drawn apart by an invisible wind, revealing Lingxian Divine Official beneath the dissipating divine shadow. Her face was deathly pale, but a gentle smile still lingered on her lips.
“Master!”
Su Shang staggered forward, supporting Lingxian Divine Official’s swaying divine body. Her own elegant and immaculate face had lost all color, just like her master’s: “Master, why… must you go this far?”
“Do not worry.” There was no disappointment in Lingxian Divine Official’s smile, only a faint trace of relief and satisfaction: “It is merely the loss of seventy percent of my remaining lifespan. The remaining thirty percent… is sufficient for him.”
“…” At that moment, tears welled at the corners of Su Shang Divine Attendant’s eyes, and for a long time, she could not speak.
Without taking time to feel the Vermilion Bird blood within him, Yun Che rose and bowed deeply: “Junior Yun Che thanks Senior Lingxian for her immense grace.”
“There is no need for thanks.”
She patted Su Shang’s hand, and with her support, took a slow step forward. Her increasingly clouded Vermilion Bird divine eyes once again examined Yun Che: “This is the repayment I owed you, and also the best final resting place for the Vermilion Bird flame.”
She pointed her finger, and a jade slip glowing with red crystal flame light appeared before Yun Che, then drifted down into his hand.
“This score is called… [Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody]. To others who read it, it is merely a musical score to clear the heart and purify thoughts. But when played with the Vermilion Bird flame, it can ignite divine sound and ultimate flame, enough to console souls and redeem the world!”
The name “Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody” was already like thunder to Yun Che’s ears, even back in the lower realm.
It was known as one of the Three Great World-Incinerating Heavenly Scriptures, alongside the “Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record” and the “Phoenix Ode Scripture”. The moment the “Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody” fell into his hands, it meant that the inheritances of the three ancient supreme fire clans had all converged within his body.
The moment the red crystal jade slip landed in Yun Che’s hand, it automatically unfurled, and the score of the Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody clearly appeared before Yun Che’s eyes. In his ears, Lingxian Divine Official’s soul-penetrating voice resounded.
“The Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody contains eight movements. The first four are [Hymn of the Flame Dawn], [Quieting the Soul], [Melody of Burning Calamity], and [Song of the Sparrow’s Heart]. These four movements are relatively easier to comprehend. With your profound meridians and pure heart, your speed of understanding will surely surpass that of Su Shang back in her day.”
“The next three movements are [Celestial Feather’s Ferry of Compassion], [Ballad of the Crimson Sunset Rebirth], and [Sorrowful Melody for the Burning Calamity]. The first two require not only sufficient fusion with the Vermilion Bird flame and extremely high insight, but also a compassionate heart that pities the world and mourns for all beings.”
“As for the seventh movement, it requires perfect flame control, ultimate insight, a heart of utmost holiness, and an immaculate soul. Su Shang has cultivated for ten thousand years and still cannot ignite it. Do not force it.”
Yun Che listened quietly. When Lingxian Divine Official’s voice fell, he closed the jade slip and put it away solemnly: “Senior’s teachings, this junior will engrave every word in his heart. Senior mentioned earlier that the Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody contains eight movements… Could it be that the eighth movement has been lost?”
“No,” Su Shang Divine Attendant answered him: “The final movement of the Vermilion Bird’s Soul-Comforting Melody is called [The Aria of Redemption]. In this world, only my master can play it, but…”
She did not finish, but Yun Che understood completely.
So, the eighth movement was none other than the flame of redemption, which, together with the Phoenix’s Nirvana Flame and the Golden Crow’s Jade-Breaking Flame, was known as the Three Ultimate Flames… It was the flame of the end that could only burn at the moment of falling.
“Cough… cough!”
Lingxian Divine Official suddenly coughed violently, her divine body trembling in pain. Su Shang Divine Attendant quickly reached out to block the bloody froth that kept spurting from her mouth.
Yun Che subconsciously stepped forward: “Senior…”
But Lingxian Divine Official waved her hand, instead comforting him: “Do not worry about me. Eternal slumber is a longed-for release for an old woman like me, who should have died three million years ago. The primal fire crystal you gifted me, which can spare my last thousand years of remaining life from the agony of devouring, is already a great kindness.”
A thousand years of remaining life… Yun Che’s heart stirred violently.
Lingxian Divine Official, one of the four divine officials of the Pure Land who had existed for almost the entire history of the Abyss… after bestowing upon him the Vermilion Bird inheritance, she had only a mere thousand years of life left.
“If you truly harbor an irrepressible sense of gratitude, then compose your heart and listen to my three words of advice.”
Yun Che straightened himself, then bowed with utmost respect: “Very well. This junior will listen to every word of Senior’s advice.”
“Cough… cough…”
Lingxian Divine Official’s already aged face visibly declined another degree. She paused for a few breaths, then spoke softly: “Since you possess Lord Ni Xuan’s profound meridians, and have both the Phoenix Flame and Golden Crow Flame within you, you must know the annihilating power of the three divine flames. The Golden Crow Flame is the strongest, the Phoenix Flame is second, and the Vermilion Bird Flame is the weakest.”
“But the Vermilion Bird Flame is universally recognized as the foremost of the three divine flames. Do you… know why?”
Yun Che replied: “Although the Vermilion Bird Flame is not adept at annihilating living beings, it can warm and comfort the soul, burn away all filth, and restrain all evil. It is praised by all worlds and revered by all spirits. It fully deserves to be called the foremost of the three divine flames.”
Lingxian Divine Official smiled and nodded: “Good, very good. ‘Eternal Pure Land’ was originally my homeland, but I am destined to never return. My first piece of advice… If you ever set foot in the ‘Eternal Pure Land’ in the future, remember that the Vermilion Bird Flame can only console souls, and must never be used for evil.”
A thousand years of remaining life… yet destined never to return?
Yun Che was puzzled, but naturally could not ask this question now. He could only respond with utmost solemnity: “Very well! This junior hereby swears that in this life, I will never…”
“There is no need to swear an oath.”
Lingxian Divine Official interrupted him: “Compassion lies in the heart, not in words or deeds. Your acceptance is enough.”
“The second piece of advice…”
She looked at Yun Che, her gentle gaze truly like that of someone looking at her own child: “The nine drops of divine blood I have given you are taken from my Vermilion Bird source, condensing a portion of my source divine power. For an ordinary person, fully refining them would be enough to directly achieve demigodhood. But since you possess Lord Ni Xuan’s profound meridians, I cannot determine how much it will help you grow. However…”
“Regardless, do not be impatient. Remember to refine at most one drop every three years, and do not try to do it all at once. Otherwise, losing the divine source is the least of it; harming yourself… might leave an irreparable eternal regret.”
For Yun Che, the risks Lingxian Divine Official spoke of would never exist. But he could only obediently comply: “Very well. Although this junior has an endless longing for the Vermilion Bird divine flame, wasting even a trace of the senior’s gift would be an unforgivable sin. This junior will proceed step by step with stability, refine it slowly, and will never rush for quick results.”
What he said was not false. But as for what kind of “step by step with stability” and “slowly refine” he meant, that was naturally for him to decide.
“Good.”
Lingxian Divine Official nodded again. Her originally steady breathing now became noticeably shallow and rapid. Every inhalation carried an uncontrollable slight tremor, like a flickering candle in the wind.
Even the crimson long dress seemed to have lost its luster. The hem swayed gently in the breeze, but no longer had the nimbleness of the red flame shadows that had surrounded it before. Instead, due to the host’s weakness, it added a heavy, drooping sensation.
Only the gaze from her cloudy eyes looking at Yun Che still held the same warmth as before:
“Child, have you ever heard of the ‘Pale Flame’ from your master?”
Yun Che nodded: “The Ancestral Creation God left behind three calamities and three blessings, and the ‘Pale Flame’ is one of the three calamities, ultimately extinguished by my master.”
Although, this was actually something Li Suo had told him only the day before.
“So you know of it. That is best.”
Lingxian Divine Official’s breathing became even more unsteady, and her hand holding Su Shang’s began to tremble slightly, but she still spoke in a calm voice: “Since you know of the Pale Flame, you naturally also know its end, that its source core was shattered by Lord Ni Xuan, breaking into three fragments, which he granted to our Vermilion Bird, Phoenix, and Golden Crow clans.”
“And this third piece of advice is… cough… that you must never, because of the legend of the ‘Pale Flame,’ attempt to fuse the three divine flames of the Vermilion Bird, Phoenix, and Golden Crow.”
“Why?”
Given Lingxian Divine Official’s current shaky state, it would have been most appropriate to simply agree and let her rest early. But he still couldn’t help asking out of doubt.
The red jade hairpin seemed unable to hold back her graying hair, and a few strands slipped down beside the hairpin, hanging by her cheeks, slightly shading the cloudiness in her eyes. She lowered her gaze and gave Yun Che a sufficiently clear answer: “Lord Ni Xuan was born for the elements and feared no fire in heaven or earth, yet even he dared not ignite the Pale Flame upon himself.”
“Because once that Pale Flame is lit, it will spontaneously generate a violent flame spirit.”
“Even if it is a flame ignited by your own power, its flame spirit will absolutely never obey your will. It will have only the instinct to burn and annihilate, burning both the enemy and the self, wantonly causing a terrifying flame disaster that is unpredictable and uncontrollable.”
Yun Che: “…”
“But… the main reason you must not attempt it is not this.”
“The Pale Flame is a fire of calamity that can easily even pierce the body of a true god. In the Age of Gods, it was a terrifying disaster. Let alone the present era… cough… cough… it is even more impossible, and should not, be ignited upon the body of any living being of this era…”
“If you force an attempt out of curiosity or desire… it could very likely destroy or harm yourself… the consequences… are… unpredictable… cough cough cough…”
“Master, no more!”
Su Shang could no longer remain silent. She tightly supported her master’s swaying body. When she touched her arm, she felt only an icy coldness. Even the skin that once carried the lingering warmth of the Vermilion Bird was now as cold as an ancient jade that had lost its spirit.
Yun Che quickly said: “This junior has engraved everything Senior has said in his heart, and will not forget a single word.”
“Senior, please rest and take good care of yourself. This junior will no longer disturb you. I take my leave.”
Su Shang had no time to speak. She flicked her long sleeve, and a gentle breeze passed before Yun Che, immediately causing spatial ripples. With a blur of his vision, he found himself outside the residence of Lingxian.
He did not leave immediately, but stood there, his heart filled with endless emotion, mixed with a trance-like sense of unreality.
“She gave you such a heavy bestowal,” Li Suo sighed. “A ‘genuine smile’… is it really that important and precious?”
Yun Che turned and slowly walked away: “You have never experienced three million years of waiting and foolish longing, so you will never understand.”
“I… truly do not understand,” Li Suo murmured softly. “Mo Su was bound by love. Then he should have understood Lingxian’s feelings for him all the more. Why did he… not even grant her a smile?”
Yun Che replied: “Because romantic love between a man and a woman is the most selfish thing.”
Li Suo was even more bewildered: “If romantic love between a man and a woman is the most selfish thing, then why do you have a multitude of wives and concubines, and countless beautiful…”
“Shut up!” Yun Che’s tone was harsh: “Do not disturb my thoughts.”
Li Suo was silent for a moment. Gradually, she sensed the heaviness of Yun Che’s thoughts, and spoke again: “Having obtained such a rich Vermilion Bird divine source, not only can you ignite the Vermilion Bird flame, but after fully refining it, it will be enough to allow you to achieve in a short time several times the growth you have had in the four years since entering the Abyss.”
“Why is the heaviness in your heart greater than the joy?”
Yun Che’s brows were tightly knitted, unable to relax for a long time: “In a little over forty years, the passage to the ‘Eternal Pure Land’ will be opened. And Lingxian Divine Official still has a thousand years of remaining life, yet she herself says she is destined to never set foot in the ‘Eternal Pure Land’…”
“She… does not wish to return?”
“That shouldn’t be it,” Yun Che shook his head. “For her, it is her homeland. She would only be far more eager to return than the people of the Abyss. Moreover, at the end of her life, shouldn’t she long even more to rest in her homeland…”
“Brother Yun!”
A distant call interrupted Yun Che’s thoughts. In his line of sight, Hua Caili fluttered like an immaculate jade butterfly, arriving gracefully by his side.
“Caili? Why are you here?” Yun Che’s eyes sparkled with surprise.
Hua Caili naturally and affectionately took his arm, her delicate body half-leaning against him, her brows arching into a beautiful crescent: “Divine Son Meng said you were at Granny Lingxian’s place, so I came to find you. Come quickly, I’ll take you somewhere.”
“Eh? Where?”
A gentle breeze brushed his ear, and he was already lightly pulled along by Hua Caili: “You’ll know soon enough.”
————
(Regarding the [Mystic Codex] mentioned by Shen Wuyi, it appeared twice in earlier text. The first time was in [Chapter 2063], when obtaining the “Obsidian Evil-Repelling Crystal”. The second time was in [Chapter 2104], when a newly turned page revealed that “once the heart of a glass heart is inscribed, it is faithful unto death, never betraying.”)
(Adding the “Abyss Heart Vine” obtained in the Divine Sleep Forbidden Domain, among the six “necessary items” recorded in the [Mystic Codex], five have already been obtained.)