Precisely because the Life and Death Sword was inside the fire lizard’s body, when Mo Fan activated the Life and Death Sword, it ended up bringing the fire lizard out of the magma pool along with it.
“What a pity for this fire lizard, a grand demon king ultimately poisoned to death!”
Looking at the fire lizard before him, wracked with deadly poison, Mo Fan could not help but sigh lightly and shake his head.
“You… who are you?!”
But at that moment, the fire lizard’s eyelids cracked open a slit, revealing a pair of crimson vertical pupils within.
“Playing dead?!”
Mo Fan’s pupils dilated instantly upon seeing this, and he instinctively retreated half a step.
However, he quickly reacted, frowning as he asked: “You’re not dead yet?!”
“I… haven’t… though I reckon it’s soon. That Ox Demon King gravely wounded me, took my demon core, and finally used my body as a vessel to forcibly infuse this terrifying toxin into me. I’m afraid I won’t even last an incense stick’s time.” The fire lizard’s voice was feeble, speaking with some difficulty.
“That old ox demon is so ruthless?”
Mo Fan’s eyes widened at the words, but then they darted as he asked: “Why did he want to kill you?”
“He wanted to subjugate me.
But it was those several great demon kings who destroyed my Crimson Fire Peak, and they even seized the spiritual treasure of my fire spirit lineage. This grudge is irreconcilable, so how could I submit to him!
Cough cough cough…”
The fire lizard’s emotions suddenly flared up, followed by it coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.
The blood from its mouth had already turned pitch black and foul-smelling, and when it dripped onto the ground, it corroded the surface with a sizzling sound, sending up wisps of black smoke.
Hearing that the Crimson Fire Peak had been destroyed, Mo Fan’s expression turned slightly unnatural, but he nodded in agreement: “Those demon kings are high and mighty, always lording over life and death. They must have long coveted the Earth Vein Fire Lotus in your Crimson Fire Peak, and now they’re just using an excuse to officially rob it.
Who would have thought that grand demon kings are nothing but bandits who burn, kill, and plunder?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m about to die, so none of this is important!
I only regret that the fire spirit lineage of Crimson Fire Peak will end with my generation. I’m truly unwilling!!”
The fire lizard growled lowly, but its voice grew even weaker. Then it looked toward Mo Fan and said: “I remember you. It was just now that you snatched the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root from the hands of that Lei Yu Clan!”
“Uh… I… I only got a very small portion…”
Mo Fan’s mouth opened and closed, the atmosphere turning somewhat awkward in an instant.
He had not expected this fire lizard to know about his contest for the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root.
“You needn’t worry about it. All of this is fated by heaven, and it can be considered your opportunity. I’m about to die anyway, so I can’t do anything about it. You don’t need to be afraid.” The fire lizard smiled bitterly.
“Opportunity?”
Mo Fan’s heart stirred at the words, and he asked: “What opportunity?”
“The Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root is birthed from the fire of the earth veins, originally a companion item of my fire spirit lineage. Once consumed by someone of my fire spirit lineage, their cultivation would naturally advance to a higher level.
But our ancestors did not engage in draining the pond to catch the fish. Instead, they heeded the command of the great Fire Phoenix Lord to guard the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root.
Because the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root is not merely a spiritual herb; it also suppresses the earth vein fire eye, preventing the earth vein fire from erupting. In this way, it can nurture even more fire spirits.
So in a sense, the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root is the companion spiritual treasure of my fire spirit lineage, and my fire spirit lineage is likewise the guardian spirit of the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root.
The reason those demon kings covet the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Root is that once one consumes and ingests the root, they can achieve a fire spirit body, gaining the ability to control fire arts, and at the same time awaken fire art divine abilities related to the spirit body!” the fire lizard said.
Achieving a fire spirit body?
Mo Fan’s heart leaped with joy at these words. No wonder the Lei Yu Clan had sneaked around digging up the root; this thing was far superior to the Earth Vein Fire Lotus Seed!
Having cultivated the Myriad Poisons Spirit Body himself, he naturally understood the power of a spirit body.
Moreover, a fire spirit body sounded extraordinarily extraordinary just from the name!
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Mo Fan looked at the fire lizard on its last breath, his expression somewhat complicated.
The other had no real need to explain these things to him. From the standpoint of their positions, Mo Fan was actually more like this fellow’s enemy.
“I hope you can receive my favor!” The fire lizard raised its eyes to look at Mo Fan.
“What do you mean?” Mo Fan was puzzled.
“You can see it as a wager I make without a banker right before death. I hope that because of this favor, you will remember my tragic fate, and if you wish to repay the favor in the future, then help me kill that Ox Demon King of the Fiery Cloud Cave!
I hate him!
If not for him taking my demon core while I was gravely wounded and infusing such a terrifying deadly poison into my body, how could I have ended up in this state?!” The fire lizard gnashed its teeth, its spirit seemingly growing stronger, yet its voice ever weaker.
“You’re thinking too highly of me. I’m just a minor demon general, and besides, if you die, why should I offend such a powerful demon king for the sake of a dead monster like you?” Mo Fan sneered.
“That’s why I call it a wager. Since it’s a wager, there are naturally wins and losses.
You are indeed just a demon general now, but I’ve never seen any demon general with guts as big as yours, daring to rob something from a demon king!
Nor have I seen any demon general survive a demon king’s pursuit.
But you’ve done all of it!
This shows you’re no ordinary demon general, worth my final bet!”
Hearing these words from the fire lizard, Mo Fan fell briefly silent, then suddenly said: “Actually, you don’t have to die. I have a way to save you!”
“Save me?”
The fire lizard was stunned at the words, then smiled bitterly: “No need to waste effort. The toxin in my body has already entered my heart meridians. This poison is unimaginably fearsome. If not for the lingering king power in my body barely slowing its erosion for the time being, I’d have long turned into a pool of blood!
You’d best not touch me either, or with your mere demon general cultivation, you’ll be instantly poisoned to death!”
“Let’s go back to what I said earlier. Are you willing to avenge me?”
The fire lizard looked at Mo Fan, only to see Mo Fan not answering, instead smiling and countering with a question: “In that case, how about we make a bet?”
“What do you mean?”
The fire lizard frowned; this time it was his turn not to understand Mo Fan’s words.
“Let’s bet on whether I can save your life.”
Mo Fan looked at the massive fire lizard with a half-smile.
“If I can save you, then from now on, you submit to me and remain forever loyal to me!
As for your grudge, wouldn’t it be too much of a pity if you couldn’t avenge it personally?”
Mo Fan’s words stunned the fire lizard, who then said in a low voice: “If you can save me, then you will have bestowed new life upon me, and I shall naturally be loyal to you. But…”
“No buts!”
Mo Fan stepped forward to the fire lizard’s side, and under its astonished gaze, placed his palm against its forehead.
Moments later, after all the poison had been absorbed by Mo Fan, the fire lizard was utterly dumbfounded on the spot.
For even it could not believe that this minor demon general before it had truly saved its life!
Though the fire lizard remained weak now, it was no longer in mortal danger.
After a moment of contemplation, the fire lizard immediately knelt on one knee toward Mo Fan and respectfully said: “Greetings, Master!”
“Are you truly willing to be loyal to me and follow under my command from now on?”
Mo Fan looked at the massive fire lizard before him, hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly: “Of course, if you’re unwilling, that’s fine too. I won’t force you. I’ll set you free, and we can just consider ourselves friends.”
“Master, though my fire spirit lineage is rare and not deeply versed in worldly affairs, we still know what loyalty and righteousness mean!
Since I promised you, Master, and you have granted me the great grace of rebirth, I am naturally willing to follow you and remain forever loyal to you!”
Though the fire lizard bore the ugly head of a lizard, at this moment it revealed a trace of human-like solemnity.
Hearing these words, Mo Fan’s mood soared, and he immediately patted the fire lizard’s head, unobtrusively absorbing the last drop of poison.
“From now on, don’t call me Master. Just call me Great King!”
“This time, this king has been away from the mountain too long. It’s time to go back!”
At Mo Fan’s words, the fire lizard immediately called out: “Great King, wait a moment. I’ll go fetch a treasure and be right back!”
With that, it flew down from the demon cloud and plunged headfirst into the magma of the volcanic mouth.
