Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 226 - 218: Wind Fire Dead Lake (3/3)

Everyone left one by one, all abuzz with discussion, still in disbelief at Zhou Heng’s powerful abilities. Indeed, this world harbored such terrifying individuals, truly a great miracle.

They all wanted to know Zhou Heng’s background, but aside from Black Donkey shouting "Zhou," indicating his surname, they had no clue about anything else.

Speaking of Black Donkey, who knows what others would think if one told them about a donkey that not only talked but also had the sharpest tongue. Would they stare as if one were a fool? After all, it was too fantastical to believe without seeing it with one’s own eyes.

Han Yiyao came to Zhou Heng’s side, standing quietly without uttering a word.

In fact, she was the most shocked, because she clearly knew that less than a month ago, Zhou Heng hadn’t possessed such powerful abilities!

What had happened in the meantime?

He had only entered the secret chamber of the Blood Sword Heavenly Monarch, yet gained nothing from it. How had Zhou Heng’s constitution made such an extraordinary leap? Wait, constitution! The Blood Sword shard!

Han Yiyao seemed to have stumbled upon a clue, but she chose not to think any further.

After all, refining a magic artifact to enhance one’s constitution sounded laughable even to her.

"Wow, Zhou, have you changed lovers again?" Black Donkey teased with a long muzzle towards Han Yiyao, blowing a whistle. If it weren’t a donkey, it would completely resemble a hooligan.

Swipe!

Han Yiyao slashed with her sword; such remarks were a naked slander to her.

This despicable donkey!

"Wow, Zhou, why are the women you find so ferocious? I advise you to remain a bachelor for life!" Black Donkey stood up and ran on two legs, running as fast as when it had four.

Han Yiyao sheathed her sword and stood, unable to catch this speedy donkey. Though its speed could not compare to Zhou Heng’s, it was certainly no slower than hers. Originally, she too was amazed that this Black Donkey could speak human language, but now she had no interest in learning the origin of this despicable donkey.

"Didn’t you go to the East Spirit Immortal Pond?" Zhou Heng asked.

"Don’t mention it; the current East Spirit Immortal Pond is full of lousy stuff. I almost threw up!" Black Donkey shuddered.

Zhou Heng doubted that a donkey could have any aesthetic judgment. His heart stirred, and he said, "Despicable Donkey, may I ask you something?"

"That’s Divine Donkey to you!" Black Donkey puffed up its chest and stood tall.

The despicable donkey was adept at reading the room, aware that Zhou Heng needed something from it, thus, it began to be difficult.

Zhou Heng chuckled and said, "Do you know about a love knot?"

"Haha, you sly kid, did you get struck by a love knot? With this fierce woman?" Black Donkey pointed at Han Yiyao, its eyes suddenly gleaming craftily.

"Despicable Donkey, let me warn you not to get any funny ideas, or else I’ll skin you alive for a coat!" Zhou Heng immediately straightened up and spoke, knowing this Black Donkey had many tricks and couldn’t handle him but could very well act against Han Yiyao, thus it was best to be cautious.

Black Donkey laughed dryly but soon said, "A love knot is not a martial arts technique but a secret technique, involving higher mysteries of heaven and earth. Even if a Heavenly Venerate or Great Emperor from the Divinity Transformation Realm were resurrected, they couldn’t undo it—it can only be resolved by oneself!"

"When your realm surpasses the caster’s, the love knot will dissolve on its own!"

"Aside from that, you’re on your own!"

Zhou Heng and Han Yiyao both frowned.

Their goals were aligned for now, with no disagreements, but what about after leaving the Wildfire Marsh? Each had their own life goals; whose lead would they follow then? Moreover, both Han Yiyao and Zhou Heng had a long way to go before reaching the Spirit Sea Realm!

Plus, being bound by the love knot, they were essentially linked life and death; any danger one encountered would also implicate the other.

"Despicable Donkey, you do have well-informed sources!" Zhou Heng quickly pushed his worries aside and laughed while speaking to Black Donkey.

"That’s right!" Black Donkey lifted its head proudly, "As long as I keep my mouth shut, who would suspect me?"

Zhou Heng and Han Yiyao were speechless; this Black Donkey also had a strong ability to hide its presence. Indeed, as long as it didn’t talk too much, it was indistinguishable from an ordinary donkey and could easily approach any place to eavesdrop on secrets.

No one would even know how the leaks occurred!

"Zhou, let’s go snatch that peerless magical instrument together!" Black Donkey shouted loudly, "Together, we are invincible!"

Zhou Heng shook his head, chuckling, and said, "You, a donkey, can be recognized by a peerless magical instrument as its master?"

"Of course! I am a Divine Donkey by divine descent, graced by the heavens, a true auspicious omen of heaven and earth!" Black Donkey said shamelessly.

"...Your skin is thicker than my defenses!"

The two alongside the donkey set out on their journey, continuing to search cluelessly for the whereabouts of the peerless magical instrument.

Zhou Heng had refined the last shard of the Blood Sword and the walking stick he obtained from Tiger Granny Zhang, but his constitution had not broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm; there was still quite a distance to cover. However, compared to the rise in his spiritual power, it was much quicker, prompting him once more to marvel at the terrifying nature of the Gold Devouring Clan.

If that race were still on the Xuanqian Continent, they would undoubtedly be the unmatched supreme rulers!

Seven days later, a huge news suddenly spread over Wildfire Marsh—A Peerless Magical Instrument appeared in Wind Fire Dead Lake!

Wildfire Marsh was vast, and several of the more infamous dangerous places were naturally named. Wind Fire Dead Lake was one of them. It was said that there was an Earth Fire beneath the lake, which kept the water boiling all year round. Near this lake, there were several natural wind caves formed by the earth, where the winds were as sharp as knives, capable of completely shattering even low-tier Magic Artifacts, hence the name Wind Fire Dead Lake.

Nobody knew who spread the news or how it spread so fast and widely, but everyone rushed towards Wind Fire Dead Lake as if mad—if one could obtain the recognition of the Peerless Magical Instrument, it would be a fortune made.

Zhou Heng, Han Yiyao, and Black Donkey also made their way there; although unsure of its authenticity, checking it out was harmless.

When they arrived at Wind Fire Dead Lake, the place was already swarming with people.

This lake was enormously large, roughly twenty li in circumference, but its depth was even more terrifying, reaching down to the Earth Fire sources, at least a hundred li deep! The surface of the lake steamed with tendrils of heat, and as the wind blades swept across, they sliced the waters into thousands of scales, creating waves and torrents akin to a tsunami.

Splash!

People continuously jumped into the lake, which, though non-toxic, had increasingly hot water the deeper one went. It was said that several li down was the steam layer where the temperature could instantly cook a Martial Artist of the Spirit Gathering Realm!

And what was more terrifying were the underground wind caves which were far more violent than those on the shore! Added together, they formed the true Wind Fire Dead Lake!

"From the news of the Peerless Magical Instrument’s appearance to our arrival here, it seems like someone is intentionally promoting this!" Zhou Heng frowned and said. The source of this news was unknown, and suggesting it was a scam wasn’t entirely out of the question.

"Who would do such a boring thing?" Han Yiyao replied, harboring similar doubts, but she really couldn’t figure out what benefits the person behind this would gain by deceiving everyone.

"You humans only know how to chase after profits, throw a bone out and you all chase it like crazy dogs!" Black Donkey said from the side.

Zhou Heng gave it a glare and said, "Before you talk about others, perhaps you should wipe off some drool first!"

Black Donkey stretched out a hoof and wiped its mouth, then said, "Zhou, go down and scope out the situation for me!"

"Sure, but then you’ll have no part in the Peerless Magical Instrument!"

"Alas, Divine Artifacts have spirits, they choose their own masters. Fighting over it is useless, if it’s not meant for you then it definitely won’t be yours!"

"Splash!"

As Zhou Heng and Black Donkey kept bantering, Han Yiyao had already leapt into the water with a fish-like dive.

"She really is hasty!" Zhou Heng shook his head.

"Zhou, your taste has improved, this girl is a bit better than those mediocre ones you used to pick!" Black Donkey nudged Zhou Heng’s waist.

"It’s just that her brain is somewhat problematic!" Zhou Heng sighed, then suddenly his expression changed!

Not good, the love knot!

With a splash, he also hurriedly jumped into the lake. This woman really did whatever she wished without informing him, knowing that the two of them were practically tied together now!

After snickering a bit, Black Donkey also followed them into the lake.

Only upon entering the lake did Zhou Heng realize that there were actually far more people inside the lake than on the shores, layer upon layer, densely packed.

The boiling water naturally could not house ordinary fish or shrimp, only Demon Beasts. However, with so many Martial Artists rushing in now, any Demon Beast was instantly shredded to bits, leaving no trace behind.

Zhou Heng quickly spotted Han Yiyao swimming ahead, her body shielded by a Spiritual Power barrier, her white robe untarnished by a single droplet, ethereal as a fairy.

"If she could be polished a bit more, she might barely pass as an alternative Saintess," Black Donkey paddle-kicked its way to Zhou Heng’s side, sizing up Han Yiyao.

"Donkey, what era exactly did you come from?" Zhou Heng started making conversation as they followed Han Yiyao.

"It’s Donkey Master!" Black Donkey corrected seriously.

"Donkey, how did you end up buried underground? Did you do some despicable deeds and get suppressed down there?"

"Go away, Donkey Master is compassionate, a living Buddha revered by thousands—who isn’t respectful towards Donkey Master!"

As they bantered, a foggy area soon appeared ahead; it was where the water in the lake reached the bottom, soon to be followed by the steam layer.

Han Yiyao was the first to pass through, with Zhou Heng and Black Donkey quickly following. At the instant the lake water vanished, they were immediately surrounded by damp steam, scaldingly hot, at least twice as hot as the lake water!

The temperature of the lake water had its limits—beyond a certain degree, it would turn into steam, but the temperature of the steam had no upper limit and could endlessly rise!

Nature’s craftsmanship was miraculous, creating wonders beyond human imagination!

Above was the lake, and once here, it became a fog tunnel. Rising heat formed immense buoyancy, supporting the entire lake, causing awe.

This buoyancy could support a massive lake, let alone a mere person. Those who entered here clung to the tunnel walls with both hands, otherwise, they would be sent back up by the rising current.

Everyone climbed down the walls like spiders. The tunnel spanned ten li across. Although sunlight no longer reached here, the depths of the cave were illuminated by blazing fire, providing a faint light.

For Martial Artists, this bit of light was already sufficient. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), monthly votes are appreciated. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)