For what felt like an eternity, the world lay shrouded in darkness, or perhaps, the world had always been thus. Light was but an impudent trespasser.

Jiang Wang drifted in a daze for a time, then gradually the memories resurfaced. His divine soul origin… had it been severed? Or was it merely awaiting the final strike?

He opened his eyes, and into the darkness, a sliver of light descended.

Gulu gulu, gulu gulu.

Around him, the sound of bubbles echoed, occasionally bursting, jolting him from his stupor.

Only then did Jiang Wang realize he was submerged in a lake of boiling lava. His injuries, remarkably, had healed to seven or eight tenths. Long Xiang Si remained clutched tightly in his hand. His right arm, perhaps held rigid for too long, was somewhat stiff. His Ruyi Immortal Robes, however, still bore the marks of the recent battle. The Three Realms True Fire within his Five Mansions Sea diffused a natural radiance, completely isolating him from the searing heat of the lava.

He had not been killed…

A flicker of fortune sparked in his mind.

Jiang Wang’s body tensed instinctively, and he leaped upwards.

And thus, he saw what lay beyond this vast lava lake – scattered amongst the mountains, one after another, were fiery red lava pools. And within these pools, or along their edges, squatting or lying down, were countless strange beasts known as Huo Dou, stretching across the mountains and plains.

Black mountains, red pools, and a heap of dogs… well, a heap of strange beasts that looked exactly like dogs. At first glance, it was impossible for Jiang Wang not to be reminded of the charcoal hotpot at Du De Wang’s in Fenglin City. How joyful those days were, when he and his brothers gathered around a furnace, wine bowls clinking, chopsticks vying for the best cuts!

The only difference was the cold gaze of these “dogs,” which quickly made Jiang Wang realize precisely who was the ingredient in this scenario.

Awkwardly, he flew down again, stepping onto the lava with practiced ease, no longer daring to dismiss them as mere “dogs.” This was the Huo Dou stronghold.

Even now, Jiang Wang’s mind was a blank. He couldn’t fathom why the Huo Dou had brought him back, or why he was placed in a lava lake halfway up the mountain, a seemingly grander dwelling than those of the ordinary Huo Dou.

He looked ahead with vigilance, and the presence that had stirred his instinctive alarm slowly descended from the mountain peak.

It was a Huo Dou with a three-pronged tail, its steps measured, almost elegant. Despite its dog-like form, it moved with the grace of a cat. But its cold eyes were filled with regal dignity.

It walked on air, stopping finally at the edge of the red lava lake, facing Jiang Wang. This was a cunning and formidable adversary, Jiang Wang reminded himself again and again. He absolutely could not mistake it for a simple-minded beast just because it resembled a dog. His current status as a captive was undeniable proof of its power.

Though unsure why his injuries had healed or why this Huo Dou King Beast had spared his life, given its insidious cunning, there was undoubtedly some crucial reason. In other words, to the Huo Dou King Beast, he held some value.

There was no need to fight again. The outcome of his previous encounter with the Huo Dou King Beast was a result of overwhelming power, not a matter of a few missed moves. Repeating the battle would change nothing. Moreover, he was now deep within their territory. The opportune time, the advantageous terrain, and the harmonious human relations – none were on his side.

Jiang Wang sheathed his sword. Having quickly accepted his reality, he felt a sense of ease settle over him. He spread his hands, indicating friendliness and lack of hostility. Then, with sincere eyes, he looked directly at the Huo Dou King Beast and said, “Things have come to this, let us converse.”

The Huo Dou King Beast merely stared at him, silent.

“Don’t be like this. We are all beings of some standing. Let us have an open and honest discussion. As the saying goes, cooperation benefits both, division harms both…”

Still silent.

“Actually, your esteemed reputation, I have admired for a long time. Perhaps there were some misunderstandings before…”

Continued silence.

“Uh, may I inquire why Your Honor has brought me here… for what purpose?”

Still silent.

“Your Highness, King of the Huo Dou, do you have any instructions? This one is most willing to be of service!”

After a prolonged period of talking to himself, Jiang Wang finally realized that while his opponent possessed wisdom not inferior to that of humans, it did not understand human language. This was not so strange. The languages of each human kingdom had evolved over long years. Today’s languages differed greatly from those of centuries or millennia past.

Many of the strange beasts within the Mountain Sea Realm had gone extinct in the present world eons ago. It was only natural for them not to understand human language. Not to mention those languages buried within the long flow of time, how many people today were still proficient in the language of the once-popular Yang Kingdom in the Eastern Domain? As for the cultivators who had entered the Mountain Sea Realm over successive generations… within the vast expanse of the realm, how many places could these individuals truly traverse? Some strange beasts might never encounter a human, and even if they did, they might not be willing to learn human language.

It was a pity he didn’t know the Dao language, nor could he write Dao characters. Otherwise, a single pronunciation, a single character, would be able to accurately convey complex meaning, completely unhindered by the communication barrier.

Jiang Wang considered for a moment. He patted his chest with his hand, saying: “I!”

Then pointed a finger at the Huo Dou King Beast, saying: “You!”

Next, he grasped his own right hand with his left, shaking it vigorously, and shouted: “Friends!”

He repeated it once more: “You and I can be friends, understand?”

With such elaborate body language, such rich expressions, and simple, powerful words, the Huo Dou King Beast surely understood… because it spat a mouthful of water to the side.

Jiang Wang: ……

One King of the Huo Dou, one heaven’s pride of Great Qi. For a time, big eyes stared at small eyes. After a long period of staring, the Huo Dou King Beast tilted its head, perhaps also contemplating how to communicate with Jiang Wang.

In any case, the atmosphere at this moment was quite peaceful (except for the fact that the Huo Dou King Beast wasn’t keen on making friends). At least both sides were seeking exchange rather than conflict.

After a moment of thought, the Huo Dou King Beast’s eyes brightened, as if a brilliant idea had struck it. It extended its right foreclaw, scooped up a handful of burning lava from the lake, and then flew up, lunging towards Jiang Wang.

If it was an attack, its strength was truly weak. Perhaps… it was a game? A way for Huo Dou to greet each other? This fellow was very duplicitous! Or perhaps it simply didn’t want to be friends!

Seeing the happy gleam in the Huo Dou King Beast’s eyes, Jiang Wang understood. He casually blocked the lava, even controlling it to perform a spin in the air before gently dispersing it into a shower of beautiful, fiery red lava rain that gracefully fell.

Immediately after, he reached out and grabbed a handful of lava, giving the Huo Dou King Beast an encouraging look, telling it, “You can too!” Then, with a splash, he threw the lava directly at the Huo Dou King Beast’s face.

Jiang Wang: ……

Why didn’t this guy dodge? What kind of game was this?

Jiang Wang’s smile became somewhat stiff. The Huo Dou King Beast, with its dog-like face, remained utterly expressionless. Its eyes were devoid of emotion, save for the slow, sticky slide of the fiery red lava down its face, which lent it a semblance of life. It indicated that this was a living King of the Huo Dou, a powerful being of significant standing even within the Mountain Sea Realm.

The atmosphere seemed to grow heavy… An awkward silence stretched for a long time.

The Huo Dou King Beast finally seemed to steel itself again, lowering its head to take another bite of lava. Then, opening its mouth, it sprayed it towards Jiang Wang. This glob of lava was still devoid of force, bouncing in the air before being easily intercepted by Jiang Wang.

Again? Jiang Wang felt that this Huo Dou King Beast’s life was perhaps too boring. It wasn’t enjoying the game, yet it continued to play. Clearly, it lived a tedious existence. He was unwilling to participate in this dull game, but as a captive under another’s roof, he had no choice but to comply. In the jianghu, one’s body was not one’s own. Circumstances dictated his actions. A great man could bend and stretch… He could only grit his teeth and once again snatch up a handful of lava to throw back. This time, his movements were gentler, fearing the Huo Dou King Beast would catch it with its face again.

This slowly flying lava, however, was directly scattered before it even reached its target. The Huo Dou King Beast seemed to have lost patience, leaping directly into the lava lake and lunging towards Jiang Wang with fierce momentum.

Jiang Wang also grew angry. He had swallowed his pride and played along with its game, yet it still threw a tantrum at the slightest provocation. Was being the King of the Huo Dou so great? He was never one to wait to be slaughtered. *Clang*, his sword was already unsheathed. Though he had been easily defeated once, fully aware of the vast power gap, he still responded with his utmost effort.

Heaven Mansion Body, Sword Immortal Person, Human Dao Sword Style, Bu Zhou Wind… This battle was more fluid than the previous one, and Jiang Wang felt he fought better. But against Jiang Wang’s various killing moves, the Huo Dou King Beast gave no quarter, still easily resolving them with a single claw, a bite, or a gulp. On several occasions, its sharp teeth came terrifyingly close to tearing out Jiang Wang’s throat.

Fists and feet, sword techniques, Dao methods, divine abilities – Jiang Wang exhausted every possible fighting technique, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Huo Dou King Beast. It was only when the Three Realms True Fire appeared that it suddenly opened its mouth, swallowing it down in one gulp, then incredibly turning away, completely disregarding Jiang Wang’s subsequent attacks, and swaggered off.

Jiang Wang, beaten black and blue, stared blankly for a moment before finally understanding the wicked beast’s intention. The Huo Dou King Beast had spared his life purely because his Three Realms True Fire tasted good, and it wanted to be able to eat a few mouthfuls every day… It was treating him, Jiang someone, as a “royal chef”! Those first two demonstrations with lava were clearly mimicking the Three Realms True Fire, indicating that he should summon it forth for consumption. After he had “repeatedly failed to learn,” it had simply taken matters into its own hands… How unreasonable!

At this moment, Jiang Wang looked at the vast lava lake, seeing it as a large bowl of thick soup, with himself, Jiang Wang, as the ingredients within. The meat pieces in the soup… And the Huo Dou spread across the mountains seemed to eye him covetously, drooling with desire. But only the King of the Huo Dou pack could enjoy his precious “dinner”…

Although surrounded by lava, Jiang Wang knew his embarrassment was not due to the heat. He truly wanted to draw his sword and cleave this King of the Huo Dou. He truly wanted to stew all these Huo Dou, pot by pot – if only he could defeat them. Looking around, he could probably understand why the Huo Dou King Beast had imprisoned him here without imposing any restrictions. Looking as far as his sight could reach, all he saw were mountains spewing lava. Everywhere he walked were Huo Dou. Where could he run, and how far could he possibly run? Just around this lava lake, no less than a thousand Huo Dou were staring at him. Want to escape? Where was the opportunity?

Strength… In the end, it was still a matter of strength. A sword slowed by a fraction, and it was his life or the enemy’s death. Force weakened by three points, and he suffered humiliation!

Jiang Wang gritted his teeth for eight or nine breaths, then silently sat down cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing. To be confined by the Huo Dou King Beast, to be reduced to a chef, his divine ability of fire reduced to an ingredient… Of course, it was a kind of shame. But after the shame? Self-pity was meaningless, and complaining about heaven and blaming others was even more unnecessary. Curses and scolding could not hurt others, unless you were Yin Guan.

If he couldn’t fight, couldn’t escape, then he would cultivate. He always had to spend his time on the most meaningful things. Beneath the Shenlin, why could someone escape unscathed before the violent Kui Niu, yet he was captured back to the nest like a mouse played with by a cat by the Huo Dou? Of course, the Huo Dou King Beast was more cunning, and it also had a large army… But even with ten thousand reasons, Jiang Wang was unwilling to shirk responsibility. In the end, his strength was insufficient.

Since there was no immediate threat to his life, he would diligently improve himself. One Outer Manor could not escape, what about two realms? A vague Dao path was not enough for heavy use, what about after it was clear? His current sword art was insufficient for confrontation, what about after reaching the absolute peak of this realm? The Three Realms True Fire was easily swallowed, what if he could develop it to the limit of this realm? There were too many areas that needed improvement.

It could be said that upon reaching the Outer Manor, the deficiencies in his foundation were only now clearly revealed. In the Inner Mansion realm, he was already historically unprecedented, but upon reaching the Outer Manor, all aspects needed time to catch up. This realm, which originally should not have widened the gap, instead exposed his shortcomings without reservation. Those disciples of renowned sects, their paths in each realm were already laid out, requiring only them to follow the steps forward. Lone cultivators like Yin Guan, on the other hand, had grasped their Dao paths early on. He had always known how he wanted to walk and vaguely where his Dao path lay, but he had never had a clearer, more specific outline. This was something that couldn’t be rushed. He could only firmly move forward, not knowing how long he had to walk.

Indeed, he was now absolutely a top strong contender in the Outer Manor realm. In a true life-and-death battle, he could even contend for the strongest. But in reality, in all aspects, there was still a gap between him and the top Outer Manor cultivators. Bu Zhou Wind could be considered cultivated to the limit of this realm, but it still couldn’t help him escape. The development of the Three Realms True Fire always seemed to be separated by something, not directly pointing to the truth, and was later surpassed by Bu Zhou Wind. The wrong path could not be taken lightly. The power of the Sword Immortal Person lay in integration, entirely dependent on the strength of other powers. The Red Heart divine ability still hadn’t been fully understood even now. In terms of techniques, he had Dragon Tiger and Flame Flower Burning City, two super-grade Dao techniques, which were not inferior to others. In terms of sword art, he still lagged behind Ning Shuang Rong. As for his exploration of the Dao path, he definitely couldn’t compare with Dou Zhao…

A low roar suddenly echoed. Jiang Wang, deep in cultivation, turned his head to look. He saw a strong Huo Dou suddenly run to the edge of the lava lake, fling something from its mouth, and then turn its head and leave. Its demeanor was quite arrogant.

What flew in the air was a fiery red lotus, carved like a jade flower, spinning gracefully, exquisitely beautiful. He couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless. How could he not understand? This was clearly the Huo Dou “feeding” him, afraid that his Three Realms True Fire supply wouldn’t last… To think that he, a generation’s heaven’s pride, Jiang Qing Yang, had once warred alone across tens of thousands of li, roaming the world without fear of anyone! Now, he was being raised by a pack of strange beasts! What kind of humiliation was this?

Lord Jiang was filled with sadness for a time, simultaneously thinking of the hateful creatures and reasoning that not eating was a waste. He fiercely bit into a petal of the fire lotus. He felt a surge of fire essence instantly flood his body, and his heart felt somewhat better. Immediately after, he bit into another mouthful. Even that fiery red divine ability seed became brighter. Another mouthful. These beasts were truly hateful! He ate it clean in three swift bites.