Chapter 153: Lingyan the Beauty Finally Awakens

Upon hearing this, Bai Mu was startled for a moment, then asked with utmost astonishment, "Senior, why do you say that?"

"Hahaha."

Fansheng let out an independent laugh toward the sky, shook his head, and asked in return, "Have you ever heard of a renowned female God of War living in the Kunlun Secret Realm, whose name is also Liuli?"

"Just imagine, Fairy Liuli holds the lofty position of the female God of War, yet you use the name Liuli to describe a little bird. If Fairy Liuli were to hear of this in the future, wouldn't she vent her wrath upon you?"

"Oh, oh."

Reminded by Fansheng, Bai Mu suddenly recalled what Lingyan had once told him about the female God of War Liuli. Thinking of her glorious historical feat of reducing the arrogant Prince Xuanqiu to the Abyss of Cangwu in a fit of rage back then, he instantly felt a slight scalp-numbing sensation.

He immediately asked with perplexity, "Senior, since I cannot call it Liuli, what would be a good name for it?"

After a brief moment of pondering upon hearing this, Fansheng smiled faintly and said, "Why not call it Xiao Li?"

"Li is originally an alternative name for the Heavenly Dragon. Naming the little flame bird Li is barely fitting for its rather remarkable cultivation base."

"Very well."

Bai Mu nodded submissively, considering the matter settled.

However, shortly after, as he recalled how Fansheng had repeatedly and emphatically mentioned the little flame bird's cultivation base, a trace of surprise inevitably welled up in his heart.

Could it be that this seemingly unremarkable little flame bird actually possessed an overwhelmingly powerful cultivation base?

Yet, looking at how it traded blows with the Heavenly Punishment today, it still appeared somewhat weak and delicate.

Thinking of this, Bai Mu could not help but pursue the matter further: "Senior Fansheng, is Li'er's cultivation base really that high?"

"Of course," Fansheng replied without hesitation. "If my eyes do not deceive me, it must have a cultivation base of at least over a millennium. Coupled with the fact that flame birds are naturally fiery in nature and live within the Chiyan Ancient Cave, which is filled with geothermal Qi, its cultivation base can advance all the more rapidly."

Knit together with the fact that it has consumed the Myriad-Year Fiery Red Lotus, its cultivation base is now progressing by leaps and bounds.

"The reason its strength has yet to manifest fully is simply because it lacks a guiding master."

"If someone were to offer it guidance from the side, I estimate that in less than half a month, it could become a powerful arm for you!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

At this precise moment, the little flame bird chirped up fittingly, while simultaneously nodding its head unceasingly like a rattle-drum.

Seeing this scene, Bai Mu understood everything in an instant.

So the reason this little flame bird flew onto Fansheng's shoulder to fawn over him from the very beginning was likely because it perceived that Fansheng possessed great supernatural powers and thus desired his guidance.

Since that was the case, why not lend it a helping hand?

With this thought in mind, Bai Mu simply swallowed his pride and pleaded, "Senior Fansheng, since you have seen through everything, why not offer the little flame bird a little guidance?"

"Should it achieve some modest success in the future, you, senior, will also share in the glory!"

"Very well!"

Fansheng agreed without hesitation, then instructed, "Starting tomorrow, I shall impart the sword formula to you, and at the same time pass down a set of cultivation methods to this little flame bird. I believe that in just a few days, both you and this bird will transform into experts of the untamed wilderness."

With that, Fansheng waved his sleeve, and his figure turned into a wisp of cyan smoke, drifting back into the wooden cabin where he resided, apparently to go meet the God of Dreams.

For this reason, Bai Mu could only calm his excited emotions, walked back to his long-abandoned room, and collapsed onto the bed to sleep soundly.

Ever since leaving the Cold Abyss Valley, he had not even enjoyed a single sound sleep.

His journey through the Southern Wilderness consisted of nothing but fleeing from pursuers, travelling, and fighting enemies.

He had long been completely exhausted along the way, yet compelled by the heavy responsibilities resting on his shoulders, he had forced himself to endure.

Returning to the valley once more at this moment, with Fansheng's protection by his side, his mood instantly became extremely relaxed. The moment he lay on the bed, it took him less than a moment to drift off into dreamland.

Bai Mu slept very comfortably that night, even dreaming that Lingyan had awakened, and the two of them, together with the Bi Fang and the little flame bird, traversed the wilderness brandishing swords, eliminating countless primordial monsters, thereby making a name for themselves and becoming revered deities worshipped by all.

When he woke up the next morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

Looking out through the small window of the room, he could vaguely see the Bi Fang dancing gracefully in the open space outside the plum grove, while from the depths of the plum grove came the faint sound of a flute drifting from afar.

Joyfully leaping out of bed, Bai Mu strode out of the wooden cabin and flew into the grove.

The sound of the jade flute grew even louder at his ear, its leaping melodies instantly banishing all of Bai Mu's sleepiness.

Yet the flute music this time seemed vastly different from the previous few occasions.

It was a tune that sounded exceptionally lingering and distant. When the high notes arrived, they were as stirring to the heart as towering wave crests and deep valleys; when the low notes came, they were as sorrowful as a woman's soft weeping.

However, right at the conclusion of the entire piece, the pitch suddenly rose by two tones, making the overall melody sound sonorous and powerful.

Yet within that sonorous power, there seemed to be a sense of profound weight, so that even though the sound was high, it was never shrill, carrying a touch of ethereal purity amidst its mellowness, narrating a tale that somehow evoked the solemn resonance of morning bells and evening drums.

Moved by this, Bai Mu even gave birth to a touch of leisurely sentiment and could not help standing by the edge of the plum grove to chant:

In the early morning, I enter the ancient temple,
The rising sun illuminates the lofty woods.
The winding path leads to a secluded place,
The Zen chamber is deep amidst flowers and trees.
The mountain light pleases the nature of the birds,
The pool's reflection empties the hearts of men.
All myriad sounds are silent here,
Only the tolling of the bell and chime is heard.

As he finished chanting, the sound of Fansheng's jade flute likewise vanished without a trace.

The Bi Fang dancing nearby had already stopped its movements, its small eyes staring fixedly at the handsome and extraordinary youth before it, actually revealing a look of deep admiration.

"Fine poetry, fine poetry."

From the depths of the plum grove came Fansheng's deep and magnetic voice.

"Senior, are you awake so early?" Bai Mu asked loudly, standing by the edge of the plum grove.

"Indeed."

Fansheng gave a slight nod, glanced toward the Ice-Flame Pond within the plum grove, and smiled faintly, "The fire lotus you brought back should still have some remaining, correct?"

"There is still some."

Hearing this, Bai Mu hurriedly reached into his chest pocket, fished out the remaining two petals of the fire lotus, and said respectfully, "Senior, there are currently two petals of the fire lotus left, which I intend to give to Lingyan and the Bi Fang to consume."

"Very good."

Fansheng gently flicked his finger toward Bai Mu, and those two fire lotus petals instantly detached themselves from Bai Mu's palm as if they had eyes, flying straight into his hand.

After briefly inspecting the two spiritual-energy-filled lotus petals in his palm, Fansheng instructed, "Next, let us first awaken that little girl Lingyan."

With those words, Fansheng calmly turned around and walked toward the depths of the plum grove.

The youth and the two birds naturally followed closely behind.

The dappled morning sunlight sprinkled down upon the Ice-Flame Pond, dotting the clear water within with shimmering, mottled starlight.

Bathed in the sunlight, Lingyan still kept her eyes tightly closed, her pale countenance so breathtakingly beautiful that it left one stifled.

Yet such an exquisitely beautiful being was at this moment as quietly still as if she had lost her life, making one scarcely dare to look upon her directly.