# Chapter 1248: An Ancient Well Stirs Waves
In the Earth Divine Temple, any female official who achieved sainthood through spiritual power would be granted the title "Goddess."
The Life-Commanding Goddess was the foremost among the temple's goddesses, holding an extremely high status and great authority, able to stand as equals with the Heavenly Kings of the Eight Departments.
As the Life-Commanding Goddess of the Earth Divine Temple and one of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens, Immortal Consort's fame was no less than that of the other two Mysterious Maidens, Canglan Martial Saint and Shengshu Cainü.
Zhang Ruochen's eyelids drooped slightly, a contemplative expression appearing on his face. Then, he smiled faintly and said, "The imperial court's forces coming to Yin-Yang Sea is indeed related to the Earth Divine Temple."
"Immortal Consort's spiritual power is no weaker than Shengshu Cainü's. Once she discovers our traces, she will definitely capture us. With our current cultivation, we are far from being her match." Huang Yanchen wanted to persuade Zhang Ruochen to leave. After all, the three major forces underground—the imperial court, the Undying Blood Clan, and Ancestral Dragon Mountain—all regarded Zhang Ruochen as a mortal enemy. As soon as he appeared, he would surely be surrounded and attacked.
In the presence of so many powerful figures, let alone one Zhang Ruochen, even ten Zhang Ruochens would be reduced to ashes.
Zhang Ruochen's purpose in entering Dragon Fire Island was to collect the Nuan Ling Dragon Fire.
If he retreated out of fear of danger, he would lose not just an opportunity but also suffer a blow to his state of mind.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The imperial court, the Undying Blood Clan, and Ancestral Dragon Mountain indeed have many experts, and they all view me as an enemy. However, they are also hostile toward one another. It's impossible for them to truly unite against me. Besides, I have my trump cards—I'm not some soft persimmon they can squeeze at will."
He paused, his gaze sharpening as he locked eyes with Huang Yanchen. "You should go out first and rendezvous with Xiao Hei. Once I collect a strand of Nuan Ling Dragon Fire, we'll leave Dragon Fire Island together."
"You want to send me away?"
Huang Yanchen's sapphire-blue starry eyes shimmered with rippling light. She bit her lower lip gently, a hint of resentment in her voice. "You abandoned me at the Underworld King Sword Grave and came to Yin-Yang Sea alone. I haven't even settled accounts with you for that, and now you want to send me away again?"
Zhang Ruochen rarely saw Huang Yanchen looking so pitiful and delicate, and his heart stirred slightly.
However, his attitude remained firm. "It's truly dangerous here. Once I seize the Nuan Ling Dragon Fire, I can use Space Teleportation to leave at any time. If you stay, you'll only distract me."
The pitiful expression vanished. Huang Yanchen lifted her snow-white chin, a hint of arrogance in her tone. "You underestimate this princess too much! I hold the Realm Son Seal, and you've seen with your own eyes how powerful it is. Do you really think I'm that weak? Besides, if I hadn't saved you just now, you would have been captured by the imperial court. So you're not as strong as you think either—you still need someone by your side to help."
Zhang Ruochen found himself unable to refute her words. He simply stared at her face, a strange expression flickering in his eyes.
"What are you staring at? Am I wrong?"
Huang Yanchen's gaze turned cold as she shot him a glare.
"Nothing. I just feel that your personality keeps shifting. Sometimes you're like a gentle, lovesick girl, sometimes like a spoiled, unreasonable young lady, and other times like a queen in a position of power." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Is that so?"
Huang Yanchen was slightly taken aback, as if alerted to something. She quickly lowered her head, a contemplative look on her face.
Zhang Ruochen showed some concern. "Tell me honestly—is there a problem with your cultivation? Could it be that your cultivation speed is too fast, leaving your state of mind unstable and giving rise to inner demons?"
Huang Yanchen looked up and rolled her eyes at him, then punched him lightly on the chest. "Even if I do have inner demons, they have nothing to do with cultivation. They're definitely caused by you angering me. Anyway, I don't care—if you're going to collect Nuan Ling Dragon Fire, I'm going to collect a strand too. I'm not leaving."
A clear voice came from behind Huang Yanchen: "Me too. I also want to collect a strand of Nuan Ling Dragon Fire."
Qing Mo emerged from the crimson magma, stumbling slightly, her face flushed red. She blinked her clear eyes.
Qing Mo looked delicate and frail, but Zhang Ruochen could sense a powerful aura emanating from her.
"Qing Mo, have you broken through to the Xuanhuang Realm?" Zhang Ruochen asked in surprise.
Qing Mo pursed her lips, looking like a thief caught in the act, and said in a low voice, "Yes! I finally broke through."
It was worth noting that when Qing Mo was at the Upper Realm Saint level, she could already contend with Xuanhuang Realm Saints. Now that she had broken through to the Xuanhuang Realm, it was hard to imagine how powerful she had become.
If she could use her strength well, she might become a powerful ally.
However, looking at Qing Mo's timid demeanor, Zhang Ruochen shook his head. She had already entered the Xuanhuang Realm and become a top-tier expert, yet she was still this cowardly. What great feats could she accomplish?
If Zhang Ruochen had her level of cultivation and strength, he would have already charged in. Why would he need to hide like this?
In short, his cultivation was still too low. If he could just break through to the Middle Realm Saint level, he would be able to sweep through a large area.
Actually, the main reason was that the Devouring Demon Dragon and the Nine Realm Sons were chasing too closely. They all understood the principle of "if you don't advance, you fall back," and were all striving desperately in their cultivation.
Without the assistance of the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, and simultaneously cultivating his physical body, martial arts, spiritual power, sword path, time, and space, Zhang Ruochen had no advantage in cultivation speed. It was difficult for him to widen the gap with them.
"Fine. You can both stay, but you must follow my orders on how to act." Zhang Ruochen said.
"As long as you don't drive me away, anything goes. Whatever you say, goes."
Huang Yanchen's lips curled into a smile, a look of joy appearing on her face.
...
...
Below the altar, the Life-Commanding Goddess Immortal Consort withdrew her gaze and hid back into the white mist.
Wan Huayu stood beside the white mist and asked, "Did the Goddess discover something?"
A thought directly entered Wan Huayu's mind: "Besides the cultivators from the imperial court, Ancestral Dragon Mountain, and the Undying Blood Clan, there are other powerful figures hiding in the shadows. Their strength is considerable."
Wan Huayu looked around at the surrounding magma, a grave expression appearing on her face.
For someone to be evaluated by the Life-Commanding Goddess as "considerably powerful," they were definitely no ordinary person. Who could it be?
Subsequently, Wan Huayu conveyed this information to Chi Wansui, Sui Han, and Bu Qianfan. Immediately, all the saints of the imperial court became vigilant.
Chi Wansui took three steps forward, each step covering thirty zhang. After stopping, he said, "Everyone has come to Dragon Fire Island to collect Nuan Ling Dragon Fire. There's no need to continue this standoff, is there?"
"Oh? Does the Grand Year King have any brilliant suggestions?"
Qi Tian Taizi smiled, carrying the God-Destroying Cross on his back. He walked out with steady steps and stood opposite Chi Wansui.
"Let's lure out the Nuan Ling Dragon Fire first, and then each can collect it according to their own ability. What do you think?" Chi Wansui said.
Qi Tian Taizi said, "Meaning we temporarily cease hostilities?"
"At the very least, we absolutely cannot start a full-scale battle underground on Dragon Fire Island. This is the Yang Eye of Yin-Yang Sea. If the fluctuations of sacred energy become too intense, no one knows what dangers might arise. Don't let everyone die here." Chi Wansui said.
Hearing this, Qi Tian Taizi also showed a solemn expression and nodded slightly.
Then, Qi Tian Taizi and Chi Wansui's gazes turned toward the Devouring Demon Dragon.
The Devouring Demon Dragon snorted coldly. "I have no objections. However, if the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen, appears, I will definitely make a move against him. If you don't want to die, you'd better run fast at that time."
"Isn't Zhang Ruochen already dead from the Life-and-Death Tribulation?" Wan Huayu said.
The Devouring Demon Dragon only let out a cold "hmph" and did not answer Wan Huayu's question. His angular lips parted slightly as he said, "The Nuan Ling Dragon Fire is nurtured beneath that ancient well. It has absorbed the blazing flame energy and divine dragon aura of the entire Yin-Yang Sea, and has already given birth to intelligence and wisdom. Ordinary methods simply cannot lure it out."
From the Undying Blood Clan's camp, a Blood Saint at the Upper Realm Saint level said, "Why not just enter the ancient well directly to collect the Nuan Ling Dragon Fire?"
"Enter the ancient well directly?"
The Devouring Demon Dragon looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Why don't you give it a try?"
That Blood Saint naturally did not dare and quickly shut his mouth, saying no more.
"Let me give it a try."
A mass of white mist flew out from among the imperial court's saints.
Vaguely, one could see a graceful and beautiful figure standing within the mist. She landed on the altar and walked step by step toward the ancient well.
The gazes of all the saints from Ancestral Dragon Mountain and the Undying Blood Clan focused, all fixed on Immortal Consort.
From Ancestral Dragon Mountain's camp, a sacred beast transformed into human form, with a pair of silver dragon wings on its back. He was the young master of the Winged Dragon Clan, named Ye Huang.
At this moment, Ye Huang's eyes showed surprise. "The temperature of the altar is terrifying. Earlier, before I even stepped onto the altar, I was forced back. Who is she, that she can fly directly onto the altar and even dare to approach the ancient well?"
The Devouring Demon Dragon also widened his eyes, feeling it was unbelievable.
According to legend, even a True Saint who approached the ancient well would be burned to ashes. Was that human woman even more powerful than a True Saint?
Because the temperature was too high, the white mist around Immortal Consort gradually thinned, revealing a flawless, perfect figure. Her waist was as slender as a plate mouth, her legs were long, and she wore a white palace dress, carrying an ethereal, immortal-like charm.
In her left hand, she held a jade bottle, and in her right hand, a white pearl.
"A single drop of Millennial Nether Winter Water should be enough to make the Nuan Ling Dragon Fire, which has been dormant for hundreds of thousands of years, boil over completely!" Immortal Consort murmured softly.
Within that white pearl was indeed a drop of water.
The legendary extreme cold substance—Millennial Nether Winter Water.
She raised her arm and gently flicked her jade finger. The white pearl flew out and fell into the ancient well.
"Boom."
Like a drop of cold water falling into a boiling oil pan, a deafening roar came from beneath the ancient well. The entire underground space shook violently.
To be precise, the entire Dragon Fire Island was shaking, and one could even faintly hear the roaring of countless dragons.