Walking on the Blood-colored Fire Lotus, Zhu Bufan quickly caught up with the members of the Rain Master Tribe who were walking on the waves. Under their astonished gazes, he hurriedly walked towards the land beneath the Heavenly Pillar.

As soon as he set foot on the long-missed land, a sense of relief surged in Zhu Bufan's heart. Although he had been able to call standing on the back of the Demon Beast in the North Ming Kun as "standing on solid ground", it was still standing on the back of a beast. Now it was different, he was truly standing on the land, smelling the fragrance of the soil.

One by one, the people of the Rain Master Tribe also started stepping onto the land, and Zhu Bufan finally saw Wang Hui and others whom he hadn't seen for many days, but he didn't see Huo Ling.

"Brother Zhu Bufan, you finally show up," Wang Hui, who also saw Zhu Bufan, laughed heartily and quickly approached Zhu Bufan. Several days apart, Wang Hui seemed to be living well. Indeed, following that, Wang Hui said, "I didn't expect the Rain Master Tribe to have the rare deep-water herb, Sea Dragon Kui, and they even willingly gave it to me, making me feel quite embarrassed. I refined about ten Purple Solidification Pills for the people of the tribe to alleviate the awkwardness a bit."

"I mean, I took almost seven pounds of Jade Bisha without feeling the slightest bit embarrassed, why is this guy so honest?" Looking at the still excited Wang Hui, Zhu Bufan thought to himself and sighed, then said to Wang Hui, "By the way, where is Huo Ling?"

"I don't know about that either. Three days ago on the North Ming Kun, some girls from the Rain Master Clan took her away, saying something about special training or something. But I suppose we'll see her soon," Wang Hui said, obviously not knowing where Huo Ling was now.

While the two were talking, the last group of people finally arrived from the North Ming Kun, including eight maids surrounding a tall woman dressed in gossamer gowns adorned with exquisite jade ornaments on her upper body and a golden silk embroidered veil on her face, slowly walking on the waves from the North Ming Kun towards the land. Without much thought, the woman at the center must be the Grand Priestess.

And next to the Grand Priestess, Zhu Bufan finally saw Huo Ling. At this moment, Huo Ling was wearing a new dress, the white gauzy skirt making her appear ethereally detached, and the decorations of Sealing Thunder Crystals on her hands and neck enhanced Huo Ling's refined temperament to the utmost.

"Mr. Zhu Bufan, the re-refinement of the Water Repelling Pearl this time is entirely your merit. Thank you," once on land, the Grand Priestess came up to Zhu Bufan surrounded by her maids and said to Zhu Bufan, her tone filled with sincere gratitude, devoid of any sense of superiority because of her status.

"Hehe, you are too polite. We received a payment for the re-refinement of the Water Repelling Pearl. If anything, we should be thanking you as well," after speaking, Zhu Bufan glanced at Huo Ling beside the Grand Priestess. Being closer now, Zhu Bufan felt that Huo Ling was different from before. Although her Cultivation had not advanced, her overall demeanor had changed significantly, clearly something had happened over these past few days.

"Mr. Zhu Bufan, rest assured, Miss Huo Ling is highly talented. Her progress in just a few days has surprised even me. Perhaps when you have time, you can test her yourself," seeing Zhu Bufan looking at Huo Ling, the Grand Priestess said with a smile, "The Earth Gate opens today and closes in two days. Perhaps you can choose to rest here for one day before heading to the Fifth Layer, allowing us the Rain Master Tribe to extend our hospitality."

"Thank you, Grand Priestess," before Zhu Bufan could respond, Huo Ling had already gracefully saluted the Grand Priestess in response. Seeing Huo Ling agree first, Zhu Bufan was slightly stunned but then nodded.

"That's good. I'll go back to the tribe and give them a heads-up, after which you all will be free to enter and exit the Rain Master Tribe's territory. Wan," turning her head towards Yu Shiwang, the Grand Priestess continued, "These six people will be left in your care, arrange everything for them."

"As you command, Grand Priestess," bowing, Yu Shiwang promptly stepped forward, and the Grand Priestess with the remaining seven maids then skimmed towards the Rain Master Clan's tribe in the distance.

Once the Grand Priestess left, Yu Shiwang and Huo Ling came up to Zhu Bufan. Yu Shiwang looked at Zhu Bufan and then said with a smile, "Mr. Zhu Bufan, you re-refined all ten Water Repelling Pearls so quickly, making the Grand Priestess very pleased. As for Miss Huo Ling, she's even more impressive. If it wasn't for Miss Huo Ling being from the Human Clan and needing to go to the Fifth Layer, the Grand Priestess would probably have taken her as her personal disciple. Now, let me take you all to the Rain Master Tribe. You've been on the North Ming Kun for so many days, I believe everyone must be tired."

"Just a moment," just as everyone was about to follow Yu Shiwang to the Rain Master Tribe, Huo Ling suddenly spoke, "Sorry, could you take them first? I have something I want to talk to Zhu Bufan about alone."

Seeing Huo Ling's calm yet firm demeanor, although everyone was unsure why she wanted to be alone with Zhu Bufan, they nodded and did not hinder the two, quickly, Wang Hui, Yue Lan, Grand Steward Liu, and Shan Ling from the Thunder Clan followed Yu Shiwang and left, leaving only Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling alone by the coast.

"The reason you agreed to re-refine the Water Repelling Pearls for the people of the Rain Master Tribe was because they promised to guide me in Water Control," after a silent moment between them, Huo Ling suddenly stared into Zhu Bufan's eyes and asked.

"Actually, it wasn't entirely because of that. Mainly because since we were already on the North Ming Kun, it felt good to breakthrough the Vortex Waters this way, and besides, we had no other way to get through. It seemed good to borrow the North Ming Kun's help, and also to form good relations with the Rain Master Tribe," although not understanding why Huo Ling cared so much about this, Zhu Bufan still replied.

"So, it's because of me?" Jingjing stared emotionlessly at Zhu Bufan, the enigmatic look in Huo Ling's eyes making it impossible for Zhu Bufan to guess what she was actually thinking.

"That's right, the main reason is indeed so." Although Zhu Bufan did not know why Huo Ling showed such an expression, he openly admitted that it was mainly because the Rain Master Tribe had offered to instruct Huo Ling in Water Control Skill that he agreed to their request. Upon hearing Zhu Bufan's words, the weird expression in Huo Ling's eyes intensified.

After a long while, Huo Ling suddenly raised her head, staring intently at Zhu Bufan and said, "I want to have a duel with you, a duel where both sides exert their full strength."

"Why?" Zhu Bufan was taken aback upon hearing Huo Ling's sudden challenge, truly unable to understand what Huo Ling was thinking at the moment.

"There's no reason, I just want to have a duel with you, both of us using our full strength without holding back. Last time on the Soul-locking Chain, you used Emperor Yan's power to defeat me, but now that your cultivation has greatly increased, and you've obtained the Blood Spirit Poison Fire, while I have acquired new Spiritual Water with the help of the Grand Priest of the Rain Master Clan, don't you want to have another duel? Using our own strength." Looking at the stunned Zhu Bufan, Huo Ling spoke with unusual determination.

Seeing Huo Ling like this, Zhu Bufan knew there was no use in refusing; even if he did not want to fight, Huo Ling would still make a move. Sure enough, after Huo Ling finished speaking, Zhu Bufan felt the Spiritual Energy around Huo Ling becoming violent, and strands of water vapour began to form at her feet, slowly lifting Huo Ling up.

"It seems I have no choice." Facing the rising determination of Huo Ling, Zhu Bufan drew the Emperor Yan's weapon from behind him with a bitter smile. Actually, sparring with Huo Ling was something Zhu Bufan was quite looking forward to. Before entering the tower, Zhu Bufan had almost no chance of defeating Huo Ling, and it was only with the power of Emperor Yan that he managed to suppress her, but now, during this time in the tower, Zhu Bufan's cultivation had greatly increased, and competing with Huo Ling was the perfect opportunity to see how much stronger he had become compared to before entering the tower.

'Swish!'

The crimson Blood Spirit Poison Fire surged rapidly, encircling Zhu Bufan and burning continuously around him the moment he drew his sword, making him appear like a man made of fire.

"Come on!" With a flash of sharpness in her eyes, Huo Ling, stepping on the waves, gestured with her hand, and then two water silks, light and soft like real silk, shot out from the void behind her, wrapping directly towards Zhu Bufan.

"Water Moon Dance!"

The two silk-like Water Moon Dances, manipulated by Huo Ling as nimbly as her own limbs, transformed, and the front end of the Water Moon Dance became as sharp as a drill head. Seeing the Water Moon Dance coming at him like a Spiritual Snake from both sides, Zhu Bufan did not dare to hesitate, lifting the Emperor Yan's weapon in his hand as flames burst forth from his body like a geyser.

"Ha!"

With a cold shout, Zhu Bufan, enveloped in Blood Spirit Poison Fire, launched his left palm towards one of the 'water belts', the powerful force and scorching temperature slightly distorting the surrounding air.

Seeing Zhu Bufan confronting her attack head-on, Huo Ling's lips curled into an enigmatic smile, and then her fair hand's spell seals changed.

"Entangle!"

Just as Zhu Bufan's palm was about to strike the Water Moon Dance, the Water Moon Dance originally heading straight for Zhu Bufan suddenly changed direction, and in a flash, entangled Zhu Bufan's left hand, while the other Water Moon Dance suddenly changed direction towards Zhu Bufan's neck, causing Zhu Bufan to instantly raise his sword to slash down at it.

The frontal stabbing Water Moon Dance dodged Zhu Bufan's slashing Emperor Yan's weapon like a Spiritual Snake, lunging forward abruptly, 'pu chi' sound, under Zhu Bufan's shocked and incredulous gaze, the sharp water drill head pierced through the defenses of Zhu Bufan's armor and viciously stabbed his right shoulder, rapidly dyeing the watery whip red with blood.

"I told you, I'm serious, the next time, it will pierce through the heart." After injuring Zhu Bufan, Huo Ling's expression did not change in the slightest, coldly saying to Zhu Bufan.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.