Chapter 25: Fire
Page 1/3
At Liangzhou Fifth People’s Hospital, Special Convalescent Ward.
Two knocks roused the man lying on the hospital bed. He slowly opened his blurred eyes as several officials in uniform entered, each bearing the insignia of the Enforcement Department on their chests.
“Commissioner Tan Yong, I hope you have been well. How has your recovery been recently?”
They placed a prepared fruit basket beside his bed and skillfully pulled up chairs to sit. “We have been entrusted by Chief Administrator Lü Zhenhai to investigate an old matter: the archives show that a month ago, you carried out a search operation targeting an ancient spiritual artifact at an archaeological site...”
“...During your resonance with a residual psychic imprint, you saw an entity named ‘Zhou Fan,’ correct?”
At the mere mention of the name “Zhou Fan,” the man on the bed trembled violently, like a lamb sensing the breath of a hungry wolf. Just the name alone sent chills through him.
“We apologize, we understand the impact that mission had on you. But that person is now closely linked to a major incident, and we hope you can cooperate by providing some crucial clues.”
The commissioner sitting by the bed waited patiently until Tan Yong’s reaction subsided before continuing.
“Could you describe some characteristics of the person you saw? What kind of techniques did he use?”
The gauzy curtains fluttered lightly as a breeze silently slipped into the room, yet it did nothing to ease the growing heat within.
A drop of sweat trickled down Tan Yong’s forehead. He breathed heavily, fingers gripping the bedding tightly, as if only by doing so could he control himself.
“...Fire.”
After several minutes of silence, he spoke in a low voice, “He used fire...”
“What kind of fire?”
“A fiery gold... no, a fire woven from many colors. Neither water nor wind can extinguish it; whatever it touches ignites.”
“I have never seen such fire. In our archives, only one technique bears such attributes...”
...
“...The Boundless True Fire.”
“An offensive technique without defense, the pinnacle of assault.”
In the Sanitation Bureau’s meeting room, Jiang Ruifeng leaned back in his chair, fingers lightly tracing over the documents before him.
“To explain simply... you should know the Samadhi True Fire, right? ‘Samadhi’ refers to the upper spiritual fire, the middle essence fire, and the lower mortal fire. These three combined form a technique that nurtures spirit and essence, achieving a perfect unity of form and soul, in harmony with the Dao, vastly superior to ordinary flames.”
“Thus, the term ‘Boundless’ in Boundless True Fire is easily understood.”
His voice grew low, “Fire in the mortal world accepts all, encompassing everything. Countless techniques converge to one point, removing all but offense, resulting in immense power, limitless upper bounds, even capable of transcending realms.”
Page 2/3
“Since this technique emerged, countless cultivators have pursued it fervently, but it is far too extreme and complicated. Its purely offensive nature means it harms the user if it doesn’t harm the enemy. Masters of it are one in ten thousand.”
Jiang Ruifeng sighed, “To be honest, I tried to learn it but failed. That’s why I understand its terror so deeply. Ordinary cultivators attempting it will only play with fire and burn themselves. It’s unimaginable how that predecessor managed to create such a domineering divine skill.”
Opposite him, Lü Zhenhai sat with hands crossed, his gaze lowered in silence.
Had he not witnessed the incident at the power plant firsthand, he might have doubted these words. But having reviewed the surveillance footage, he understood Jiang Ruifeng’s description was no exaggeration.
A supreme divine skill that allows cultivators to fight beyond their level holds immense strategic value, even disregarding its wielder.
If the top powers mastered it, even today’s nuclear deterrence system could be threatened, and the strategic balance between immortals and mortals would be shaken.
From this perspective, the technique’s brutally high learning threshold is almost a blessing.
For now, it also aids their investigation.
The Sanitation Bureau’s database contains nearly a million cultivator profiles, including ancient sects and newly registered national cultivators. As Jiang Ruifeng said, only a handful specialize in Boundless True Fire, and none are linked to this incident.
“Does Elder Jiang think the person who left this true fire might be a descendant of Zhou Wuqing?” Lü Zhenhai paused. “Or... could it be him?”
A moment of silence followed. Usually outspoken, Jiang Ruifeng unusually kept quiet, and Lü Zhenhai understood the reason.
They both knew the answer. But it was so incredible that even a broken nuclear deterrent seemed more plausible.
“Although only a trace of the true fire’s afterglow was seen, I can assert the caster’s foundation must be astonishing, no ordinary novice.”
Finally, Jiang Ruifeng spoke, “I will return to the sect today to report this to the Elders’ Hall. Meanwhile, Chief Lü, please conduct further investigations for confirmation.”
Lü Zhenhai bowed, “Thank you, Elder Jiang.”
“No trouble at all,” Jiang Ruifeng stood. “If things are as we suspect... with that predecessor’s influence, your side may face greater difficulties.”
The chair scraped the floor as he left; the heavy door opened and closed. In the empty meeting room, Lü Zhenhai let go of his formal composure, exhaled deeply, then pulled out his phone and pressed a number with slightly pale fingers.
“Hello, Team Leader Lü...”
“Any results on the investigation of Tan Yong?” Lü Zhenhai asked quietly.
“Just finished, currently polishing the records. Will send them within an hour.”
“No need to polish. Send me the raw report immediately, the sooner the better,” Lü Zhenhai ordered. “Also, what about the young woman named Qin?”
“The Medical Department reported no injuries found on her, and she has regained consciousness. She should now be back at the communal dormitory.”
“Tell her to return to headquarters today. I need to speak with her.”
Page 3/3
“Today?” The voice on the other end hesitated. “But Team Leader Lü, what about the situation at Peach Blossom Spring...”
“City tasks are handed over to Old Zhang and Old Hu. Contact me if anything arises. All remaining personnel must prioritize Zhou Qing’s investigation.”
There was no time to wait.
A cultivator wielding Boundless True Fire was terrifying merely by existence. Whatever he did with that technique could cause a chain reaction affecting everything!
...
“What’s going on? This water heater never breaks down, but it had to fail now!” Qin Hongmei paced with an empty kettle, her complaints echoing through the office.
“No maintenance can come today, and I haven’t taken my medicine yet. Without hot water, what am I supposed to do? Does anyone have water to spare...”
Zhou Qing slid a thermos across the table toward her. “I still have some. Pour from mine.”
“Oh! Reliable little Zhou!” Qin Hongmei’s mood brightened; she didn’t hesitate to take the thermos, steam rising as she poured.
“This thing is heavy... wait!”
Halfway through pouring, she suddenly realized something. “Our water heater’s been broken all day. Where did you get so much hot water?”
“I boiled it at home,” Zhou Qing replied, scrolling on his phone.
“Boiled it?” Qin Hongmei glanced at him in surprise, placing the kettle back down. “Young people these days still know how to light a fire? Rare! My kids just order takeout all day. They should learn from you...”
As usual, she launched into sharp commentary, and Zhou Qing half-listened, fingers still scrolling his phone.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
It was Qin Jiajia calling.
“Zhou Qing! There’s big trouble!”
As soon as the call connected, the girl’s anxious voice came through urgently.
“I was just summoned to headquarters. A big leader named Lü came with a group to question me, asking all sorts of things about you... It looks like you’ve already caught the attention of the higher-ups!”