Xianxia: Big Brother of Tianyong City

Chapter 30: The Supreme Human Artefact, Claimed!

Smart choice, Xiao Yu thought to himself.

The six-tailed fox demon had cultivated for over five centuries. He possessed enough wisdom to distinguish benefit from harm and make rational decisions.

After swallowing the Nine Suns Explosive Flame Pill, a wave of warmth spread through the fox demon’s body, dispelling the agonising chill that had tormented him for so long.

“This feels incredible!”

He could clearly sense the cold poison retreating rapidly. Even the Nine-Turn Profound Ice Spike left in his meridians by Shangguan had ceased its invasive activity, lying dormant as if subdued.

“Elder Brother!”

The three-tailed white fox lit up with joy upon seeing the pill’s effects.

Hmm? It’s working?

Noting the six-tailed fox demon’s newfound comfort, Xiao Yu felt reassured. As expected of a product from the system—it had lived up to its reputation.

It was time to discuss terms.

“Six-Tails, now that you’re feeling better, perhaps you’d like to consider handing over the Mysterious Flame Mirror.”

Xiao Yu had two objectives in visiting the Lava Cavern: completing a checkpoint for rewards and obtaining the Mysterious Flame Mirror.

“I’ll give you the mirror, but only if you tell me exactly how you plan to extract the poison,” the six-tailed fox demon replied cautiously.

His mistrust of humans ran deep, and with good reason. He was not about to relinquish his treasure without understanding Xiao Yu’s methods.

“The detoxification techniques of Tianyong City can extract over three thousand types of embedded poison. Now that the pill has stabilised your condition, I plan to remove the Profound Ice Spike in one go.”

As a Golden Core cultivator, Xiao Yu was confident that extracting the spike would not be overly challenging given the current circumstances.

“Elder Brother, the Immortal Master is not a bad person,” the three-tailed fox pleaded earnestly.

“Human, I’ll trust you one more time,” the six-tailed fox demon relented, swayed by the pill’s efficacy and his sister’s insistence.

“Six-Tails, I gave you the Nine Suns Explosive Flame Pill for free to demonstrate my sincerity. Now, show yours by handing over the Mysterious Flame Mirror for safekeeping. Only then will I feel assured enough to help you,” Xiao Yu said.

“Hand over the Mysterious Flame Mirror? How can I possibly agree to that?”

The fox demon’s face darkened. The artefact was his only safeguard; with his illness not yet cured, he couldn’t bear to part with it.

“Six-Tails, if I wanted to take it by force, do you think you—a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—would stand a chance against me?”

Xiao Yu’s meaning was clear: as a Golden Core cultivator, he could easily claim the artefact without asking.

“Fine! I’ll entrust the mirror to you for now. But if you dare deceive me, I’ll fight you with my dying breath!”

Reluctantly, the six-tailed fox demon retrieved the Mysterious Flame Mirror from his robes and handed it over, his expression pained.

The Mysterious Flame Mirror!

Xiao Yu held the artefact, excitement surging through him.

Ancient legends spoke of the Mysterious Flame Mirror as the essence of ten thousand flames. It could command the Eight Desolations Flame Array, summon primordial fire dragons, and incinerate all impurities—a divine artefact of apocalyptic power.

Ding! 

“Host has obtained the supreme artefact, the Mysterious Flame Mirror, thereby seizing the opportunity destined for Zhang Fanchén. Luck +8000!”

Xiao Yu’s heart leapt at the system’s announcement.

Eight thousand points of luck!

Snatching the protagonist’s opportunities truly feels amazing!

According to the original story, Zhang Fanchén was meant to acquire the Mysterious Flame Mirror. By obtaining it first, Xiao Yu had claimed the luck originally destined for the protagonist.

“Immortal Master, now that my elder brother has given you the mirror, please begin the treatment,” the three-tailed white fox urged.

“Of course,” Xiao Yu replied.

He channelled spiritual energy into the six-tailed fox demon’s body, guiding it to the location of the Profound Ice Spike.

Within the scorching heat of the magma-filled cavern, a blue, triangular spike slowly emerged from the fox demon’s back. Inch by inch, it was forced out until it was fully extracted.

↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣↣

Outside the cavern, a cold-faced youth clad in a fiery robe descended from the sky, landing at the entrance. A compass-like device rested in his hand.

“The readings indicate that the two fox demons are hiding inside,” he muttered to himself.

“The six-tailed fox demon was wounded by Uncle Shangguan’s Nine-Turn Profound Ice Spike and has lost most of his strength. Clearly, the heavens have willed me to reclaim the sect’s treasure, the Mysterious Flame Mirror!”

This youth, named Li Xun, was the prodigy of Blazing Sky Valley, the foremost immortal sect of the Southern Frontier.

[Li (李, Lǐ): Literally means “plum” (the fruit), which is a symbol of resilience and purity in Chinese culture, as plum blossoms bloom even in the harshness of winter. Xun (寻, Xún): Means “search,” “seek,” or “explore.” It conveys a sense of curiosity, questing, or the pursuit of knowledge, truth, or purpose.]

For years, Li Xun had tirelessly searched for the Mysterious Flame Mirror, guided by his device. At last, his efforts had borne fruit.

“My Nine Suns Ruler is merely a high-grade artefact, but the Mysterious Flame Mirror is a supreme treasure!”

Greed flickered in his eyes. Far removed from Blazing Sky Valley’s jurisdiction, he could slay the fox demons and claim the treasure for himself without his sect ever finding out.

Whoosh!

Riding his Nine Suns Ruler, Li Xun flew into the abandoned mine.

The cavern was far deeper than he had anticipated. Even after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he hadn’t reached the bottom.

As he descended further, the temperature climbed steadily until the surroundings glowed red. At last, he arrived at the magma lake.

“Fox demons!”

Li Xun immediately spotted the two fox demons—the three-tailed white fox and the six-tailed fox demon.

Standing beside them was a young man. At his feet lay the freshly extracted Profound Ice Spike, still stained with dark blood.