Chapter 2319 - 2316: Innate Fire

Chapter 2319: Chapter 2316: Innate Fire

"Nothing much, just went out on a trip." Lin Tian said casually.

"What kind of trip is that magical? Is there even a place my Brother Ning hasn’t been to?" Ning Wenbin’s eyes lit up; this jokester thought he’d gone to some tourist Holy Land.

Lin Tian mumbled, "There are lots of places you haven’t been. Somewhere very far, very cold, and with no sign of people."

If Ning Wenbin found out he’d gone to Kunlun Death Valley, with this joker’s personality he’d probably make a fuss about going too. That place isn’t somewhere ordinary people can enter; even those Ancient Martial Artists nearly lost their lives in that valley.

"Brother Lin, that’s not cool. You wouldn’t even take me to such a fun place. Remember to bring me next time." As expected, Ning Wenbin was full of interest, shouting to reserve a spot for next time.

Lin Tian just shook his head with a smile, didn’t answer him, and instead said, "Your home’s right here in Jinghua City. Today isn’t registration day, it’s noon—what are you doing at school?"

"Heh heh, I was just about to tell you..." Ning Wenbin let out a sly chuckle, then glanced around and lowered his voice, looking all sneaky: "Remember that construction site? When they were digging the foundation, they accidentally dug out the Underground Maze."

Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan both froze for a second, then casually asked, "So what did they find in the maze?"

"Uh... nothing, actually." Ning Wenbin was stumped by the question.

"The Underground Maze is less than ten meters below the surface; it’s normal it got dug out. What does that have to do with you coming to school early?" Lin Tian asked again, not knowing what medicine this guy was selling in his gourd.

Ning Wenbin showed that punchable grin again and said mysteriously, "You don’t know yet, right? I heard the boarders discovered a supernatural incident. Late at night on a construction site where nobody’s working, human shadows appeared. Tell me, isn’t that scary?"

Lin Tian raised an eyebrow and asked, "You sure it wasn’t night patrol workers or the security guys?"

"Patrol what night? Ever since they found the Underground Maze, work at the site stopped long ago, and it’s been sealed off. Our university’s archaeology students finally got to hold their heads high—the campus finally discovered an ancient tomb and officially joined the Campus Ancient Tomb Alliance." Ning Wenbin said with amusement.

What he said wasn’t really an exaggeration. People say schools are all built on cemeteries; there’s some truth to that. In recent years, plenty of universities have discovered ancient tombs while rebuilding their buildings—some over two thousand years old, some barely two hundred. Noble tombs, even royal tombs have been found.

Universities that discover ancient tombs naturally become the center of attention, especially the archaeology departments; they’re over the moon.

Jinghua University, a dignified century-old prestigious school, hadn’t managed to get into this Campus Ancient Tomb Alliance, which the students were a bit unconvinced about. Now that a huge Underground Palace has been discovered, it’s not bad at all.

Logically speaking, this was a good thing. Lin Tian also wasn’t worried they’d be able to discover the underground Barrier; the archaeology people don’t have that kind of ability. But once Ning Wenbin talked about it, the matter took on a bit of a creepy tone—good news turned into bad news.

"I brought my cousin over early this morning; she left just an hour ago. Since I’m starting school anyway, I stayed on campus, and I didn’t expect to run into you." Ning Wenbin explained.

"Even Sister Luoxi was alarmed?" Xiao Manxuan said in surprise.

"Of course. My cousin handles this kind of thing. After so much crazy stuff happened before, how could she not come?" Ning Wenbin said with certainty.

Lin Tian’s eyes flickered and his expression changed slightly. "Did Luoxi find anything?"

"Not really. In broad daylight you can’t find much. Cousin said she’ll come back tonight to check again." Ning Wenbin shook his head, not very concerned. "Anyway, have you guys eaten yet? I’ll treat."

"Look at the time—treat us next time." Lin Tian had already eaten; he didn’t have any appetite left.

"Heh heh, actually, I wanted to ask Brother Lin to help me invite classmate Wu Xiuluo out, to sit together, chat a bit, and deepen our bonds as classmates." Ning Wenbin chuckled, finally revealing his fox tail.

Lin Tian shot him a contemptuous sideways glance. "Can’t you have a little ambition? She’s already clearly rejected you. You two are from different worlds."

"Sigh..." Ning Wenbin let out a sigh, looking extremely reluctant to let go. "They say a woman is the rib the man is missing, given form. I think Xiuluo is that rib of mine."

This guy’s always been a jokester, so him suddenly getting all poetic felt a bit off, and sounded especially fake.

"Do you think, if Xiuluo heard me say that, she’d be moved..." His eyes lit up, the poetic expression gone, replaced by a look of eager anticipation.

"No." Lin Tian cut him off immediately, speaking coldly. "Take my word for it, brother—she’s not right for you."

He was warning him because they were brothers; otherwise the deeper he sank, the worse it’d get. With Wu Xiuluo’s identity, she’s destined to spend her life alone.

"Isn’t she an Ancient Martial Artist? I can become an Ancient Martial Artist too. I can endure any kind of training. When that time comes, we’ll be from the same world. Or is it that Brother Lin knows something?" Ning Wenbin suddenly spoke very seriously.

"I do know her identity, but I can’t tell you. Think it through yourself. This Heart Demon—you have to overcome it." Lin Tian said solemnly, then pulled Xiao Manxuan away, leaving Ning Wenbin standing there a bit dazed.

After they’d walked a distance, Xiao Manxuan couldn’t help saying, "Weren’t your words a bit too harsh on him?"

"It’s not like you don’t know Wu Xiuluo’s true identity. Once her power fully awakens, she’ll become a true Ksitigarbha Envoy. If he keeps clinging to her, it’ll be a calamity for Ning Wenbin." Lin Tian said calmly, not softening in the least.

"Humans and ghosts can still fall in love, but Sister Xiuluo’s identity really does mean there can be no outcome." Xiao Manxuan also sighed.

The two returned to the dorm. Quite a bit of dust had already settled in the living room, so they went through another round of major cleaning.

After busying themselves for most of the day, they finally had time to sit down. The little girl was just about to turn on the TV when Lin Tian said, "Don’t rush to watch TV. Didn’t Great Elder Le Hua give you a scroll? Take it out and let’s have a look. Maybe you can cultivate it and become a peerless expert too."

"Haha, I’d forgotten all about it until you mentioned it. Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to become an Ancient Martial Artist like sis, so I can protect her and protect mom. Now I finally have the chance." Xiao Manxuan was extremely excited and darted back to her boudoir to search.

Lin Tian felt metaphorical black lines appearing on his face. A top-tier Cultivation Technique of Ancient Hidden Stream, and you actually forgot it? If those aristocratic families found out, they’d probably cough up blood in anger. But when he heard the little girl’s last two sentences, Lin Tian smiled again—she really was a kind-hearted girl.

A waft of fragrance drifted over as the little girl had already sat down beside Lin Tian, placing the scroll in front of him. "Help me take a look. I can’t read the characters on it."

Lin Tian opened the golden scroll, and lines of tiny yet elegant and archaic script appeared before his eyes.

"Burning Sky Technique: wield the Innate Fire and burn the heavens..." Lin Tian read the opening and couldn’t help being a bit astonished. What a bold claim, to dare put it that way.

"Isn’t the Innate realm lower than the Transformation Period? Why isn’t it called Transformation Period Fire, but Innate Fire instead?" Xiao Manxuan questioned.