Chapter 54 of 100
Chapter 54
12 min read2,989 words
When Yi Yun saw the skull, his pupils suddenly constricted.
This skull was entirely covered in red scales, which were originally beautiful but had somehow been charred black.
It had three sharp horns on its head, like swords, and it had sharp fangs and two long, thin whiskers. Its appearance was not terrifying but rather dignified.
Although it was already dead, the pair of emerald green eyes still seemed to contain a cold, murderous aura, making people feel a chill.
"This is..."
For some reason, Yi Yun felt not only the intent to kill from the dead ferocious beast's eyes but also a faint sense of unwillingness.
"It's called a Red麟Beast!" A faint voice came, but it wasn't the old man speaking; it was Lin Xintong.
Lin Xintong's voice gave Yi Yun the feeling of a white silk, very gentle.
Yi Yun was slightly taken aback and glanced at Lin Xintong. Since Yi Yun met them, Lin Xintong had been very quiet and never interrupted his conversations with the old man, except for the brief sparring just now.
Lin Xintong said, "The Red麟Beast is a wild beast. Although the Red麟Beast's wild bone grade is not low, its strength is considered weak among wild beasts. The Red麟Beast is very special; some of them will suddenly self-immolate during their prime, dying in the self-immolation."
"Huh?" Yi Yun was stunned. Suicide?
Lin Xintong continued, "There is a rumor that the Red麟Beast has the bloodline of the Fire麒麟. If it ignites its entire bloodline, it can evolve into a true Fire麒麟 in the flames."
"However, the current Red麟Beasts have been separated from the ancient Fire麒麟 for many generations. Even if they really have the bloodline of the ancient Fire麒麟, it has been diluted to the point of being almost undetectable. Therefore, most Red麟Beasts will live a few hundred years peacefully and die of old age."
"But... some Red麟Beasts do not want to live like that. From birth, they start searching for and devouring various fire-type spiritual objects, even directly swallowing flames. They gather a large amount of fire energy in their bodies until their bodies can no longer bear it, and the energy erupts, igniting the Red麟Flame!"
"These Red麟Beasts will undergo a baptism of fire in the Red麟Flame, seeking the bloodline of their ancestor, the Fire麒麟, in the flames."
"However... their fate is always the same: they die from the burning of their internal organs, without exception..."
"Sometimes I think they might be aware that awakening their ancestral bloodline will never succeed, but they still choose to do so without hesitation. They could have lived a few hundred years peacefully, but they prefer to ignite the Red麟Flame in their prime and die in the flames."
Lin Xintong's voice was melancholic. The Red麟Beast was a wild beast she had known for a very long time.
She felt like a Red麟Beast herself, born with a yin meridian, an unbreakable curse. Her desire to restore her meridians was like the Red麟Beast's desire to awaken the bloodline of the ancient Fire麒麟.
Both were as difficult as ascending to the heavens, both like moths drawn to the flame.
Was it better to live a few hundred years like an ordinary Red麟Beast and then die, or to try to break the constraints of fate like the brave Red麟Beasts, even at the cost of their lives?
In fact, Lin Xintong had already made her choice...
After hearing Lin Xintong's words, Yi Yun fell silent.
Born to seek the flames, choosing the hottest and most intense fire-type spiritual objects to consume, until the body burns and dies in the flames.
Even knowing that they could never evolve into a Fire麒麟, they still chose to die for the sake of this brilliant moment.
Because they were unwilling to live a life of weakness, in summary, they were unwilling to be ordinary!
Yes, unwilling to be ordinary. Yi Yun was also unwilling to be ordinary, but he didn't know that the seemingly gentle and weak Lin Xintong in front of him shared the same mindset.
"Senior, are you using the Red麟Beast to encourage me, or to warn me not to overestimate myself and play with fire?" Yi Yun suddenly asked.
The old man snorted and said, "You're thinking too much. With your bone structure, encouragement won't do much. I'm just telling you not to overestimate yourself. There are too many people practicing martial arts in this world. Many people, like moths to a flame, seek resources and go on dangerous adventures in the wilds without enough strength, only to end up as prey for ferocious beasts!"
Although the old man's words were harsh, they were sincere advice. Yi Yun humbly replied, "I have learned."
"Hmm..." The old man was satisfied with Yi Yun's attitude, "The book Xintong left you is a good deal. Read it well. Although your bone structure is poor, your comprehension is decent. The 'Dragon Sinew Tiger Bone Fist' you practice is also passable. Reading Xintong's book should help you improve your strength."
Although the old man's words were deliberately deprecating, Yi Yun could hear the encouragement and humbly accepted it again.
"Alas, what a pity." The old man shook his head and suddenly changed the subject, "Hmph, you don't know, if this book were taken to an ancient clan auction and said to be annotated by Xintong, many young masters would be willing to pay a high price for it. Those young masters are quite... fond of Xintong."
"Teacher!"
Lin Xintong interrupted the old man irritably. Due to certain reasons, she was indeed pursued by many young masters of powerful families in the ancient clan. If not for her teacher appearing and taking her as a disciple, she might have been betrothed to a family.
After all, although Lin Xintong had exceptional talent, her yin meridian made her meridians blocked, limiting her strength and lifespan to just a few hundred years.
Powerful families are very pragmatic, always acting in the best interest of the family. Clearly, marrying Lin Xintong to another family for support would be more beneficial.
"Never mind, never mind." The old man waved his hand and changed the subject, "Hey, boy, I'll give you the Red麟Beast's skull. The Red麟Beast is special; after it dies, the fire essence in its body will slowly dissipate over ten years. If you hide this skull well, you can absorb this essence without refining it. How much you can absorb depends on you."
In the old man's view, with Yi Yun's strength, it was unlikely he could refine the wild bone, and with his physical foundation, he probably couldn't digest the Red麟Beast's skull directly. Letting the energy dissipate and absorbing it slowly was the best method.
Of course, this method was too slow. The young masters of powerful families couldn't wait ten years.
"Boy, although I said this, I guess you will still venture into the wilds for training in the future. Fine, I'll write a protective charm for you. When your cultivation reaches the peak of Qi Induction, this charm will be activated, protecting your life once. If we meet again in the future and you haven't used this charm, it can also serve as a token to see me."
"Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?"
As the old man was speaking, he noticed Yi Yun looking at him with a suspicious gaze.
Yi Yun didn't expect this old man to actually give him a benefit. It was like the sun rising in the west.
But was what he offered voluntarily reliable?
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