Chapter 497

Having left the underground lair, Yunhe stared out at the faraway forest, sensing that he had missed something.

Translate: Yunhe, who had left the underground den, gazed at the distant forest, always feeling that he had overlooked something.

We need to keep punctuation? We'll produce natural English.

He had intended to use the soul-search technique on Chixiao, who answered 'I don't know' to every question three times over, even though they were standing in the Fire Demon King's nest and he didn't even know what a fire demon was. Given Yunhe's powerful spiritual sense, dealing with a wandering soul that had been separated from its body for so long should have been child's play; he never expected that Chixiao's soul seemed to be shrouded by some mysterious force, which nevertheless frightened Chixiao greatly. The old demon is just that—always reaching for the soul-search, and Yunhe even went along with it. Besides, what exit, what fire demon—he truly had no idea. Seeing that Yunhe showed no sign of abandoning the soul-search, yet unable to accomplish it, Chixiao hastily spoke up.

We'll produce a smooth translation.

Senior, my father, Chiling Shangren, is also a renowned Nascent Soul grand cultivator in the Eastern Territory; I implore you to show mercy, and my father will surely reward you with generous gifts.

Translate: "Senior, my father Chilang Shangren is also a renowned Nascent Soul grand cultivator in the Eastern Realm; please show mercy, and my father will surely reward you with generous gifts."

Yunhe frowned slightly; in the underground cavern he saw no trace of the so-called exit. Chixiao had been staying in the cave for so long, yet he seemed completely unaware of it—apparently someone is lying on one side or the other. But looking at Chixiao's demeanor, his desire to leave seems stronger than anyone's. Yunhe sealed the babbling Chixiao with a flick of his finger, sending him back into the seal and storing him in his sleeve, thinking he might still be useful later. Yunhe spread his wings behind him, transforming into a five-colored beam of light that shot straight into the forest.

—————— (just a separator line). We need to output 【5】 with translation? The line is just "——————". Should we translate as same? Probably we keep the line as is? The instruction: translate each line. For a line of dashes, we can output the same dashes. So 【5】 ——————

On the lake island in the forest, a figure descended from the sky, landing like a world-shaking thunderclap, kicking up a fierce wind that tore at the surrounding trees and stirring a green tornado. Yunhe looked around, didn't see that small figure, and directly slashed two sword lights at the large tree, leaving two palm-wide marks on the bluish-brown trunk. A milky white fluid continuously seeped from the wounds, slowly turning transparent, and the injuries healed almost instantly, leaving only two faint scars. The tree spirit swayed its trunk and shot a shower of leaves flashing with dark green light at Yunhe, but the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword knocked them down one by one. The ground trembled as countless thick tree roots shot out from the stream like whips, attacking Yunhe.

All-Heaven Five Elements Sword Formation—activate!

Translate: "The Five Elements Heavenly Sword Formation! Activate!"

Yunhe pinched the sword seal in his hand, five-colored radiance emanating from his body; in midair, the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword transformed into streaks of golden lightning, and wherever it passed, the thick, grindstone-like tree roots were instantly cut down.

Translate: Yunhe pinched the sword seal in his hand, his body radiating multicolored splendor; in midair, the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword turned into streaks of golden lightning, wherever it passed, the thick tree roots as thick as millstones were instantly cut down.

Yet the fallen roots quickly rotted into mud, merging with the soil, and then more roots, still clinging to dirt, emerged. 'You cannot kill me,' the tree spirit said slowly.

Translate: Yet the fallen roots instantly rotted into mud, merging with the land, and then more roots, still wrapped in soil, appeared. "You cannot kill me," the tree spirit said slowly.

Seeing this, the vague notion in Yunhe's mind gradually became clear; there was one crucial point he still hadn't grasped.

Translate: Seeing this, the vague idea in Yunhe's mind gradually became clear; there was one crucial point he still hadn't grasped.

'That's it, it's that girl!' Yunhe thought, and obviously he had figured out all the strange phenomena of this place.

Translate: "Ah, it's that girl!" Yunhe thought, obviously having figured out all the strange phenomena here.

Combining what the tree spirit had said earlier, it turns out not all of it was lies; the appearance of the fire demon fits

Translate: Combined with what the tree spirit said earlier, it's not entirely false; the opportunity for the fire demon's appearance fits well with the trajectory of Chixiao and his enemies arriving in this space.

Combining the lava cave where Chixiao and the fire seal are located, that is precisely the nest of the fire demon king, and the demon spirit must certainly appear within the Five Elements Nurturing Spirit Pearl. This indicates that the changes occurring in the spatial rift here are inevitably linked to that treasure pearl; even if the pearl is not a spatial-type magic artifact, it must contain a small world, and the girl named Xiao Ling'er is very likely the artifact spirit of this Five Elements Nurturing Spirit Pearl.

Translate: Furthermore, combining that Chixiao and the Fire Seal are located outside the molten cave which is exactly the Fire Demon King's nest, and that spirits must reside within the Five Elements Nurturing Spirit Pearl, it shows that the changes in this spatial rift are necessarily tied to that pearl; even if the pearl is not a spatial-type treasure, it must contain a small world, and the girl named Xiao Ling'er is very likely the artifact spirit of the Five Elements Nurturing Spirit Pearl.

"The pearl must still be inside the Vermilion Bird's secret realm; as long as we obtain the pearl, we can return to the Vermilion Bird's secret realm!"

Translate: "The pearl must still be in the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm; as long as we obtain the pearl, we can return to the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm!"

All thoughts have become clear at this moment; the only remaining question is, where is Xiao Ling'er?

Translate: All thoughts are now clear; the only remaining question is, where is Xiao Ling'er?

"Never mind, I'll deal with you first, then slowly look for her."

Translate: "Forget it, I'll deal with you first, then slowly look for her."

Having said that, the Five-Qi Peacock Fan spun in Yunhe's palm, scattering several flying leaves, then swooped toward the large tree. The giant tree continually obstructed with its roots, sensing a strong dangerous aura emanating from the fan and, out of instinct, refusing to touch it.

Translate: Having said that, the Five Qi Peacock Fan turned in Yunhe's palm, scattering several flying leaves, then flew spiraling toward the big tree; the giant tree continually blocked with its roots, sensing a strong dangerous aura on the fan, and instinctively avoided touching it.

The Five-Qi Peacock Fan traced a graceful arc in the air, dodging the incoming roots. "Now!"

Translate: The Five Qi Peacock Fan traced a beautiful arc in the air, dodging the incoming roots. "Now!"

In a haze of five-colored light, a five-colored peacock manifested, its sharp claws cloaked in five-colored radiance; each strike caused the tree spirit to emit painful wails.

Translate: In a haze of five-colored light, a five-colored peacock manifested, its sharp claws adorned with five-colored rosy light; each strike caused the tree spirit to emit painful wails.

Even an ordinary treasure, even if it were a top-grade fourth-rank artifact, could hardly achieve such an effect. However, the five-colored peacock, now transformed into an artifact spirit, carries a trace of Geng-metal energy with each strike; the sharpness of Geng-metal combined with the metal-over-wood property. In no time, the tree spirit's body was covered in wounds left by the peacock, from which a pale white fluid continuously oozed, unable to heal, making the sight utterly miserable.

Translate: Even an ordinary treasure, even if it were a top-grade Fourth Level artifact, would hardly achieve such effect. But the five-colored peacock, manifested as an artifact spirit, each strike carries a hint of Geng Metal Qi; the sharpness of Geng Metal plus the attribute of metal overcoming wood makes the tree spirit's body soon covered in wounds left by the peacock, with pale white juice continuously oozing from the wounds, unable to heal, looking utterly miserable.

Gradually, the tree spirit's controllable roots dwindled, and its regenerative ability weakened, clearly becoming a candle in the wind. Seeing this, Yunhe watched the five-colored peacock transform back into a fan amid a haze of five-colored light, then a sharp Geng-metal energy shot forth: "Shoot!"

Translate: Gradually, the tree spirit's controllable roots dwindled, its regenerative ability weakened, showing it was practically a candle in the wind. Seeing this, Yunhe had the five-colored peacock, amid the five-colored haze, transform back into the fan, then a sharp Geng Metal Qi shot forth: "Shoot!"

With a loud boom, the massive trunk was struck, creating a round large hole, and it crashed heavily to the ground. Meanwhile, a jade-green seed-like object floated out from the hole, remarkably undamaged.

Translate: With a boom, the massive trunk was blasted with a round hole, crashing heavily to the ground. Yet a jade-green seed-like object floated out from the hole at that moment, undamaged.

"As long as the pearl remains intact and the demon spirit lives, I will return soon."

Translate: "As long as the pearl is not destroyed, the spirit will not die; I will return soon."

"You'd better not even think about finding out where she is."

Translate: "You also shouldn't even think of knowing her whereabouts."

The jade-green seed floating in midair conveyed the tree spirit's unwilling resentment: "Is the demon spirit not dead?"

Translate: Only heard from the jade-green seed floating midair came the tree spirit's unwilling resentment: "The spirit won't die?"

Yunhe secretly smiled, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

Translate: Yunhe secretly smiled, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

He turned his right hand over, and a small, entirely crimson demon spirit resembling a gecko appeared in his palm—precisely the fire demon king Yunhe had captured.

Translate: He flipped his right hand; a tiny, wholly crimson spirit resembling a gecko appeared in his palm—exactly the Fire Demon King Yunhe had captured.

"Go!"

Translate: "Go!"

The seal vanished, and the fire demon king, which had been feigning death, instantly sprang up, turning into a red streak that disappeared from Yunhe's hand.

Translate: The seal vanished; the Fire Demon King, who had been playing dead, instantly leapt up, turning into a red streak that disappeared from Yunhe's hand.

But suddenly a fragrant, sweet scent rushed straight into its nostrils. "Sniff sniff."

Translate: But suddenly a fragrant sweet scent rushed straight into its nostrils. "Sniff sniff."

The fire demon king immediately halted its escape, turned its head toward the tree spirit seed floating in the tree hollow, and slowly approached.

Translate: The Fire Demon King immediately halted its escape, turned its head toward the jade-green seed floating in the tree hollow, and slowly approached.

"Wait, don't come over."

Translate: "Wait. Don't, don't come over."

It seemed to have heard the tree spirit seed's words; the fire demon king stuck out its tongue covered in small bumps, licked its lips, and suddenly a row of sharp teeth appeared in its formerly toothless mouth as it lunged toward the tree spirit seed.

Translate: As if hearing the seed's words, the Fire Demon King stuck out its tongue covered in small bumps, licked its lips, and suddenly a row of sharp teeth appeared in its formerly toothless mouth, charging toward the seed.

The tree spirit seed turned into a green light and tried to flee, crying: "No! Please, don't let him come near. Ah!"

Translate: The seed turned into a green light trying to flee: "No! Please, don't let him come over. Ah."

The running fire demon king leapt into the air, opened its mouth wide, eyes full of bliss, and swallowed the tree spirit seed in one gulp, lamenting: "What a pity; the cost to cultivate it again would be great."

Translate: The running Fire Demon King leapt into the air, opened its mouth widest, eyes full of bliss, and swallowed the seed in one gulp: "What a pity to raise it again; the cost would not be small."

Chixiao didn't understand, so he muttered softly in his sleeve; although sealed by Yunhe, he could still see what was happening outside through the seal.

Translate: Chixiao didn't understand, so he muttered softly in his sleeve; although sealed by Yunhe, he could still see outside events through the seal.

The tree spirit also didn't understand: why isn't this person saving me? Does he not want to leave? Isn't a ready-made demon spirit fragrant? "Nom nom."

Translate: The tree spirit also didn't understand: why doesn't this person save him? Does he not want to leave? Isn't a ready-made spirit fragrant? "Mmm."

Watching the little creature happily feasting, Yunhe grew more confident that his guess was correct—this little fellow would surely help him find Xiao Ling'er! After finishing its snack, the fire demon king's skin and head suddenly displayed strange red patterns, emitting a glow like burning flames.

Translate: Seeing the little creature happily feasting, Yunhe grew more confident his guess was right—this little guy would surely help him find Xiao Ling'er! After finishing the snack, the Fire Demon King's skin and head suddenly displayed strange red patterns, emitting flickers like burning flames.

Seeing this, Yunhe couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of the Five Elements demon spirits, which can devour each other to produce stronger spirits, much like raising gu poison.

Translate: Seeing this, Yunhe couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of the Five Elements spirits: they can devour each other to produce stronger spirits, like raising gu.

Having finished its meal, the fire demon king left fresh shining patterns on its originally uniform skin; suddenly, as it washed its face with its forepaws, it paused, tilted its head slightly left, gazed at the broken trunk of the tree spirit beneath, and began to dig vigorously into the soil.

Translate: After the Fire Demon King finished its meal, the bright patterns remained on its originally plain skin; suddenly, as it washed its face with its forepaws, it paused, tilted its head slightly left, looked beneath the tree spirit's shattered trunk, and began to dig vigorously.

Yunhe had no doubts about him; given the chaotic magnetic field here, he could only trust the demon spirit born from the pearl—this also gave him the confidence to slay the tree spirit without questioning it! He invoked the Pulling Technique: Yunhe's magical power flowed, sending large chunks of earth flying. This sudden development truly startled the fire demon king; turning its head, it saw that it was the same human who had hastily dug a hole and begun to drill downward.

Translate: Yunhe had no doubts; the magnetic field here was chaotic, only believing that the spirit born from the pearl could be trusted—this also gave him confidence to slay the tree spirit without questioning it! Pulling Technique! Yunhe's mana flowed in his hand, large chunks of dirt flew up. This sudden development truly startled the Fire Demon King; turning his head, he saw it was that human, who hastily dug a hole and began drilling down.

"Not enough!" Yunhe swallowed a handful of pills, crossed his hands, quickly formed several hand seals, then slammed both hands heavily onto the ground beneath his feet.

Translate: "Not enough!" Yunhe swallowed a handful of elixirs, crossed his hands, quickly formed several seals, then slammed both hands heavily onto the ground beneath his feet.

The surrounding ground instantly cracked open around Yunhe like a giant spiderweb.

Translate: The surrounding ground instantly cracked open centered on Yunhe, like a giant spiderweb.

Flying debris and rocks left only a conical earthen pillar, tens of meters high, beneath Yunhe's feet.

Translate: Flying debris, the vast expanse of ground left only a conical earthen pillar tens of meters high beneath Yunhe's feet.

Yunhe's body flickered with two thin purple bolts of lightning, and in the next instant he appeared at the base of the earthen pillar, also catching the fire demon king that had just fallen. The little fire demon king, which had been burrowing quickly into the soil, suddenly felt weightless, flailed in the air twice, and when it opened its eyes found itself back in that person's hand, leaving it somewhat disheartened.

Translate: Yunhe's body flickered with two thin purple bolts of lightning; the next moment he appeared at the base of the earthen pillar, also catching the Fire Demon King that had just fallen. The little Fire Demon King had been burrowing in the soil, rapidly descending, when suddenly a weightless sensation came; he flailed in the air, grabbed twice, then opened his eyes to find himself back in that person's hand, leaving him somewhat disheartened.

Originally, the underground was a tangled mass of roots, but with the tree spirit's death, the roots began to wither and would soon rot into mud, returning to the world. Amidst the tangled, complex roots, a naked girl hugged her knees, slowly drifting within a green light cluster.

Translate: Originally the underground was tangled with tree roots; due to the tree spirit's death, the roots gradually withered, soon to rot into mud and return to the world. Amidst the tangled roots, a naked girl hugged her knees, slowly floating within a green light cluster.

——————

We output same line.

The fire demon king emitted two sounds like marbles rubbing together toward the girl, scurrying in circles on Yunhe's hand, appearing quite anxious.

Translate: The Fire Demon King emitted two sounds like marbles rubbing, crawling in circles on Yunhe's hand, seeming very anxious.

Yunhe gazed silently at the scene before him, feeling that this girl was markedly different from the one he had first met; even a green gem had appeared on her forehead. This place had no sun or moon, and Yunhe did not know how long it had been since they last parted, how long the girl had remained in this state, or when it would end.

Translate: Yunhe gazed at the scene before him, silent. He could feel that this differed greatly from the girl he first saw; even a green gem had appeared on her brow. This place has no sun or moon; Yunhe doesn't know how long since they last parted, nor how long her condition has lasted, nor when it will end.

As the surrounding roots decayed, the green light gradually diminished, like a shrinking bubble slowly settling to the ground.

Translate: As the surrounding tree roots rotted, the green light gradually diminished, like a shrinking bubble slowly settling to the ground.

When the girl landed safely, the frantically spinning fire demon king in Yunhe's hand suddenly halted, tilted its head to look at Yunhe, then turned to the girl and said: "Go on."

Translate: When the girl landed safely, the frantically spinning Fire Demon King in Yunhe's hand suddenly stopped, tilted its head at Yunhe, then turned toward the girl: "Go on."

Yunhe lifted the fire demon king's hand and pushed it forward, bringing it to the girl's side.

Translate: Yunhe lifted the Fire Demon King's hand and pushed it forward; the Fire Demon King came to the girl's side.

The fire demon king gently sniffed the girl's breath, sensing her steady breathing, and thus no longer as anxious as before, it licked her delicate cheek with its tiny tongue. Gradually, the girl seemed to feel something, slowly opening her eyes; first she saw the adorable little creature before her and felt a strong sense of affection.

Translate: The Fire Demon King gently sniffed the girl's breath, sensing her breathing was steady, thus no longer as anxious as before; it stuck out its tiny tongue and licked her delicate cheek. Gradually, the girl seemed to feel something, slowly opening her eyes; first she saw the adorable little creature before her, feeling especially close.

Then she noticed the strange old man nearby who had given her candied haws, and finally saw her own naked self. "Ah!"

Translate: Then she saw the strange uncle nearby who had given her candied haws, and finally saw her own naked self. "Ah!"

——————

Same line.

While Yunhe went to deal with the fire demon king, what exactly happened? Why is Xiao Ling'er here? The little fire demon king transformed into a fiery red robe for Xiao Ling'er, making her appear calm and gentle.

Translate: While Yunhe went to deal with the Fire Demon King, what exactly happened? Why is Xiao Ling'er here? The tiny Fire Demon King transformed into a fiery red robe for Xiao Ling'er, making her appear calm and gentle.

Yunhe could never have imagined that this was the girl who, upon first meeting, tripped and fell into the water, the little glutton whose eyes lit up at the sight of candied haws. Although Xiao Ling'er is now properly dressed, she still blushes from the earlier embarrassment, making her all the more endearing. "How did you end up here?"

Translate: Yunhe could never have imagined that this was the girl who tripped and fell into the water on their first meeting, the little glutton whose eyes lit up at the sight of candied haws. Although Xiao Ling'er is now dressed, she still blushes from the earlier embarrassment, making her especially cute. "How did you end up here?"

"How did you end up here?"

Translate: "How did you end up here?"

The two asked the same question again at the same time, then turned their heads simultaneously, big eyes staring at small eyes.

Translate: The two asked again at the same time, then turned their heads simultaneously, big eyes staring at small eyes.

After a simple conversation, it turned out that when Yunhe left then, the tree spirit used its own roots to bind Xiao Ling'er deep underground.

Tree Spirit Grandfather is the demon spirit left by my previous master.

Xiao Ling'er lowered her head, her hands gripping her dress, constantly rubbing it back and forth.

Originally, that day, after Chixiao pursued the iron-faced old man into the spatial rift, he arrived at a ruin. Within the ruin, the two continued their chase and escape; although the iron-faced old man dodged the seal's lethal strike, he was still no match for Chixiao.

Thus, Chixiao was sealed inside the pearl, relying on the tree spirit cultivated with all efforts within the pearl, they finally found an opportunity and severely wounded Chixiao. Unexpectedly, the gravely wounded Chixiao still had a trump card, ultimately resulting in the iron-faced old man's death and Chixiao's soul being taken by the seal.

With the iron-faced old man's death, the pearl became ownerless, gradually giving birth to an artifact spirit, which is Xiao Ling'er.

And that seal spontaneously found an underground cavern, relying on its abundant fire-element Spiritual Power, reshaping the cavern into what Yunhe saw. As for that strange beast, we must speak of Xiao Ling'er's peculiar ability; as she gradually grew up, during the time she was in the pearl, her vague memories began to become clear.

She would occasionally fall into a deep sleep, and during her sleep her memories would produce projections, passing through the spatial rift and being cast into other spaces. Both that strange beast and Yunhe were like this, being drawn into this world.

However, that strange beast could not deal with the tree spirit that could constantly recover, so it fled to the west side of the island where the tree spirit could not reach. Thus the island formed a peculiar landscape of a sea of sand on one side and a forest on the other. The fire demon, meanwhile, arose due to the gradually increasing fire-element Spiritual Power and the influence of Xiao Ling'er's birth; this demon spirit, which ought to have been artificially created by cultivators, instead came into existence spontaneously.

Do you know what's wrong with your grandfather?

Yunhe asked, seemingly unaware; at this moment Xiao Ling'er, already overwhelmed with grief, hugged her knees, buried her head between her legs, and shook her head.

Perhaps, it has its own difficulties.

Seeing this, Yunhe did not continue questioning, stepped forward, stroked the girl's thick-haired back of the head, and comforted her.

Hmm

Xiao Ling'er responded with a sound, nodded, but did not lift her head.

Actually she knew all along; since some point, when she spoke to the Tree Spirit Grandfather, it would talk and then stop, giving her a creepy feeling, so she stopped living on the forest's central island; that's why when Yunhe entered the central island, she would return from the forest.

Will you come with me?

A sentence interrupted Xiao Ling'er's memories; she raised her head and gazed fixedly at the somewhat tall figure before her. "Let's go take a look; from now on I'll protect you!"

That person turned around, extended his right hand, his words especially firm.

The girl slightly lost herself, "Tch, what are you showing off for?"

Only seen, the girl who had just been lost in thought now stood up, arms crossed over her chest, turning to reveal a small face flushed with crimson. (End of chapter)